Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has submitted a bill to the Turkish parliament endorsing Sweden's membership bid in NATO, according to his office. Sweden's entrance into the Western defense alliance had been delayed due to objections from Turkey, who accused Sweden of harboring individuals associated with terrorist groups. However, after reopening parliament on October 1, Erdogan had promised to send the bill for ratification. The move has been celebrated by Sweden, as it paves the way for their NATO membership to be finalized.
Erdogan's decision to move forward with the bill follows demands for Sweden to take more decisive actions against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey and other countries consider a terrorist organization. Despite these demands, the bill approving Sweden's NATO membership has finally progressed.
The presidency announced on social media that "The Protocol on Sweden's NATO Accession was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 23, 2023, and referred to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey." Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden welcomed the development, stating that it is now up to the parliament to address the matter.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his anticipation for a swift vote in the Turkish parliament and the imminent inclusion of Sweden as an ally. According to a European diplomat, Stoltenberg even hinted at the possibility of Sweden joining at the next foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for November 28-29. Hungary's parliament also needs to ratify Sweden's NATO application before it can become a member.
The timeline for Turkey's ratification is yet to be formalized. The bill will first need to be reviewed and passed by the foreign affairs commission in the Turkish parliament, after which it will be sent to the general assembly for final approval. While it is anticipated that the bill will pass once submitted to the general assembly, the scheduling of the vote remains uncertain.
The ruling AK Party, in coalition with nationalist and Islamist partners, has a majority in parliament with 322 out of 600 seats. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has previously expressed support for Sweden's NATO membership. Some analysts believe the bill is likely to be swiftly passed, although the scheduling of the vote ultimately lies with Erdogan.
Sweden and Finland both applied for NATO membership in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland's membership was confirmed in April, marking a significant expansion of the alliance. However, Sweden's application had been delayed due to objections from Turkey and Hungary. Ankara has been seeking U.S. congressional approval for the sale of F-16 jets and modernization kits worth $20 billion, and Erdogan had indirectly linked Sweden's NATO bid to U.S. support for this request.