Sweden’s Request to Join NATO Supported in Committee Vote

“The protocol (on Sweden joining NATO) was supported in the committee,” opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Utku Çakirezer told AFP after the vote.

The vote in the committee paves the way for a vote in the legislature, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling coalition holds the majority of seats.

It is currently unclear when that vote could take place.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has already expressed his satisfaction with the committee’s vote.

He also urged Turkey and Hungary to complete the ratification process as soon as possible.

Turkey and Hungary are the only two NATO members that have not yet approved Sweden’s request to join the alliance.

Sweden applied to join the alliance together with Finland last year after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. Finland became a member of the alliance in April.

Turkey delayed Sweden’s accession to NATO, accusing the country of being too tolerant of individuals and groups that Ankara considers to be threats to its security or accomplices in the 2016 coup attempt.

Turkey was also angered by demonstrations in Sweden by supporters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish separatist armed group, and Koran-burning protests.

2023-12-26 17:59:00
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