Turkish lawmakers have finally approved a long-awaited bill concerning Sweden's bid to join NATO, making it the 32nd member of the military alliance. The Turkish Parliament voted on the bill, with 287 votes in favor, 55 against, and four abstentions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming days.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his satisfaction with the Turkish Parliament's ratification, stating on social media, "Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO."
Following this approval by Turkey, Hungary remains the only NATO member that has not yet given the green light to Sweden's application to join the alliance. Both Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in response to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine in 2022. NATO requires unanimous approval from all member countries for new entrants.
Turkey had previously approved Finland's NATO bid in March of the previous year but had delayed Sweden's accession, citing security concerns that needed to be addressed. In October 2023, Turkish President Erdogan signed Sweden's NATO accession protocol, leading to its submission to the parliament for ratification. The foreign affairs committee of the Turkish Parliament endorsed Sweden's NATO bid in December 2023, paving the way for the recent full parliamentary vote.
(With Agency Inputs)
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