Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s membership in NATO may face further delays, dashing hopes of a swift approval in time for the upcoming NATO foreign ministers' meeting. Although the Turkish parliament has initiated discussions on Sweden's bid, it is unlikely that the ratification process will be completed by the start of the ministerial meeting slated for next week in Brussels, according to anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
The first debate regarding Sweden's application took place last week in a Turkish parliamentary committee. However, the committee expressed the need for a written anti-terrorism road map from Stockholm before granting approval for Sweden's accession to NATO. This requirement has raised concerns about potential delays in the already protracted expansion plans of the military alliance.
As of now, the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee has not scheduled any meetings for the following week. Both the committee and the full assembly must vote in favor of Sweden to pave the way for its membership. Consequently, the likelihood of the ratification happening before the ministerial meeting remains uncertain.
Sweden had applied to join NATO alongside its neighbor Finland a year and a half ago. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently expressed support for Sweden's accession, aiming to strengthen defense ties with the United States-led allies. Finland, on the other hand, became a NATO member in April.
However, the decision made by the Turkish parliamentary committee indicates that the approval process could face further obstacles. Turkey and Sweden have different interpretations of a deal struck in July. According to the agreement made at NATO's summit in Vilnius, Sweden should present a road map for its ongoing efforts in counterterrorism during the inaugural meeting of a bilateral security mechanism. Sweden maintains that this implies it should be allowed to join NATO first, while Turkey may have a differing perspective on the matter.
In addition to Turkey's approval, Hungary's endorsement for Sweden's membership is also pending. Although Hungary has stated it will not be the last to ratify, it remains to be seen when the approval process will be completed.
In conclusion, Sweden's NATO membership approval may experience further delays as Turkey's parliament has yet to finalize the debates and vote on the matter. The conflicting interpretations of the agreed road map for countering terrorism between Turkey and Sweden may further complicate the approval process. As a result, the timeline for Sweden's accession to NATO remains uncertain, and the upcoming ministerial meeting may be held without a formal approval of Sweden's membership.