Turkey’s parliament has given its stamp of approval for Sweden’s membership in NATO, removing a significant obstacle for the previously nonaligned country’s entry into the military alliance. With 287 votes in favor, 55 against, and four abstentions, Turkey’s lawmakers ratified Sweden’s accession protocol. The ratification will take effect once it is published in the Official Gazette.
Until now, Hungary was the only NATO ally that had not ratified Sweden’s membership. Turkey had been delaying Sweden’s entry for over a year, expressing concerns that Sweden was not taking a strong enough stance against groups that Turkey considers security threats. Turkey had sought concessions from Sweden, including a tougher approach to Kurdish militants and members of a network accused of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016.
Ankara was also angered by protests in Sweden by supporters of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party and Quran-burning demonstrations that affected Muslim countries. However, in recent months, Sweden has taken steps to address Turkey’s demands, such as lifting restrictions on defense industry sales and amending anti-terrorism laws.
Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar highlighted these measures and pledged deeper counterterrorism cooperation between Sweden and Turkey, as well as support for Turkey’s aspirations to revive its EU membership bid. Sweden’s membership bid received support from Turkey’s main opposition party, while a center-right party and the pro-Kurdish party expressed opposition.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had linked the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership to the approval of a Turkish request to purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets and modernize its existing fleet. He also called on Canada and other NATO allies to lift their arms embargoes on Turkey. However, the U.S. Congress never explicitly tied the F-16 sale to Sweden’s NATO membership.
While awaiting the U.S. Congress’s decision on the fighter jets, Turkey’s parliament ratified Sweden’s accession to NATO, a move expected to prompt quick action on the F-16 sale. The National Security Council in Washington has expressed confidence in Sweden’s readiness to become a NATO ally, praising its modern and advanced military capabilities.
Sweden and Finland abandoned their traditional nonaligned positions in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Finland joined NATO in April after Turkey ratified its bid, becoming the alliance’s 31st member. Besides Turkey, Hungary has also delayed Sweden’s membership, citing alleged falsehoods about Hungary’s democracy. Hungary has not announced when it intends to hold a vote on Sweden’s accession.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has invited his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, to Budapest to discuss Sweden’s entry into NATO. The expansion of NATO requires unanimous approval from all existing members, and Turkey and Hungary were the last countries holding out. The swift accession of Sweden and Finland had been urged by other NATO allies.