Turkey's Parliament, After Delay, Backs Sweden's NATO Membership

The Turkish Parliament has approved Sweden's bid to join NATO in a long-awaited vote, bringing the Nordic nation's journey closer to membership. 

The application was initially submitted in 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, Turkey had previously withheld approval, citing concerns over what it termed as Sweden's support for Kurdish militants.

As one of NATO's 31 member countries, Turkey holds the authority to veto new nations seeking to join the alliance. The measure successfully passed with a vote of 287 in favour, 55 against, and four abstentions within the 600-member body. Turkish President Erdogan is anticipated to sign the legislation in the coming days.

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This decision leaves Hungary as the sole NATO member yet to approve Sweden's accession. NATO's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, welcomed the news from Turkey, as reported by Reuters. But he said, “I also count on Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible.”

“Sweden has fulfilled its commitments. Sweden’s membership makes NATO stronger and all of us safer,” he added.

Background

The Turkish parliamentary vote occurred nearly two years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting Sweden and Finland, previously militarily nonaligned for many years, to formally apply for NATO membership. 

The application process requires unanimous support from the alliance's members, now numbering 31, with most swiftly granting their approvals.

However, Turkey and Hungary, both of whose leaders have maintained cordial relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout the Ukraine war, chose to hold out. Hungarian officials responded with ‘Swedish criticisms of the state of Hungarian democracy’, while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey accused Sweden and Finland of neglecting his country's security concerns by failing to address dissidents whom Turkey considers terrorists.

Recently, Sweden took action by introducing more stringent anti-terrorism laws in June, criminalising financial or logistical assistance to terrorist groups.

Finland officially became a NATO member in April, effectively doubling the length of the alliance's border with Russia.