The Turkish Parliament on Tuesday the 23rd of January approved Sweden’s application for NATO membership after 20 months of delays. In a vote at the General Assembly, which is led by President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling alliance, Sweden’s application, submitted in 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was approved by 287 votes to 55, reports Reuters.
All NATO member states have to approve the applications of countries wishing to join the alliance. When Sweden applied to join NATO in 2022, Turkey raised opposition, citing concerns about Sweden’s alleged support for groups Turkey considers terrorists.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström welcomed the Turkish Parliament’s approval, saying that
Sweden was looking forward to Erdogan signing the ratification document.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed Turkey’s action and said he now hoped that Hungary would also quickly approve Sweden’s application.
Erdogan, who sent the Swedish proposal to Parliament in October, linked ratification to US approval for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.
Erdogan is expected to sign the law within days, leaving Hungary as the only NATO member that has not yet ratified the Swedish application.
BNN earlier reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban invited the Swedish Prime Minister to talks on joining the alliance on Tuesday, however, the Hungarian parliament is in recess until mid-February.
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