Türkiye voted for Sweden to join NATO. After 20 months of delays, the country’s parliament has removed the biggest obstacle to the expansion of the Western military alliance.
Why did it take so long, and what happens next?
Sweden and Finland have applied to join NATO in 2022. However, Türkiye unexpectedly raised objections. She said both countries protect groups that Ankara considers terrorists.
Last April, Ankara approved Finland’s membership. But, like Hungary, it kept Sweden waiting.
She called on Stockholm to toughen its stance against local members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which the European Union and the United States also consider a terrorist group.
In response, Sweden introduced a new anti-terrorism law that made membership in terrorist organizations illegal.
In addition, Sweden, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands have taken steps to relax arms export rules to Turkey.
Earlier, President Tayyip Erdogan said his country would approve Sweden’s bid if the US Congress approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.
Now Hungary remains the only NATO member state that did not approve Sweden’s entry. She promised that she would not be the last ally to ratify the application. However, its parliament is in recess until about mid-February.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday he had invited the Swedish leader to visit the country and hold talks.
Sweden’s application for membership marked a historic departure from decades of military neutrality. It is expected that its accession to the bloc will strengthen NATO’s defense capabilities in the Baltic Sea region.
