Turkish Parliament approves Sweden’s NATO membership

The Turkish Parliament ratifies Sweden’s NATO membership, solidifying its commitment to the NATO

Turkish Parliament Tuesday officially ratified Sweden’s NATO membership, solidifying the Scandinavian nation’s commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

In the parliament, Turkish lawmakers voted 287-55 in favor of welcoming the Nordic nation as the 32nd member of the alliance Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his appreciation for the decision. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Prime Minister Kristersson shared his enthusiasm about the progress. “Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO,” he affirmed.

The Prime Minister highlighted the positive outcome of the vote, stating, “It is commendable that the Grand General Assembly of Türkiye has voted in favor of Sweden’s NATO accession.”

This development leaves NATO member Hungary as the sole remaining holdout in the welcoming process.

While Hungary had been anticipated to follow Türkiye’s lead in approving Sweden’s NATO membership without significant resistance, potential strains between Stockholm and Budapest surfaced on Tuesday.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom expressed reservations, stating, “I see no reason to negotiate with Hungary about Stockholm’s NATO candidacy at this point.”

The protracted delay had created ripples in Western efforts to demonstrate solidarity and resolve against Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Sweden’s NATO membership has long been viewed as a strategic step to bolster the alliance’s capabilities and reinforce its commitment to regional security.

Source: Newsroom

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