The Turkish parliament’s approval on Tuesday of Sweden’s NATO membership bid after leaving the issue in limbo for months has been applauded by allies in the United States and Europe as the Nordic country has overcome a significant hurdle toward membership.
Turkish lawmakers voted 287-55 in favor of Sweden’s bid to become the 32nd member of the alliance after it won the public backing of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is expected to sign the relevant document and conclude Ankara’s role in the protracted saga in the coming days.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said he welcomed the move Tuesday by Turkey to approve Sweden’s membership in the military alliance and urged Hungary to do the same.
“I welcome the vote by the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO,” Stoltenberg said in a statement, adding that he would “count on Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible.”
Turkey’s green light leaves Hungary as the last holdout in an accession process that Sweden and Finland began in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.
Ankara forced the northern neighbors to split up their applications after finding fault with Sweden and approving Finland last April after a few rounds of talks.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X that his country is “one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO” following the Turkish parliament’s approval of Sweden’s NATO bid, adding that it was “positive that the Grand General Assembly of Turkiye has voted in favor of Sweden’s NATO accession.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s objections to Sweden’s bid initially focused on Stockholm’s perceived acceptance of Kurdish groups and political opponents that Ankara views as “terrorists.”
Sweden responded by tightening its anti-terrorism legislation and taking other security steps demanded by Erdoğan.
The United States also welcomed the Turkish parliament’s decision to approve Sweden’s membership in NATO, an “important priority” for President Joe Biden, the White House said Tuesday.
“We welcome the Turkish parliament’s vote approving Sweden’s application to join NATO,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on X, adding that Sweden would make the alliance “safer and stronger.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on X that “The United States applauds the Turkish parliament’s decision to approve the accession protocols for Sweden’s membership into @NATO Sweden’s membership in the Alliance will make it stronger and more united than ever.”
Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, said on X that “finally,” the Turkish Parliament has approved Sweden’s NATO bid, describing it as “very good and very long overdue” news. He said it took more than 18 months of various delays in diplomatic bargaining that has eroded Turkey’s image more than benefitted its interests.
Erdoğan has been accused by its critics of dragging the process out by setting new conditions for Sweden’s NATO bid. In December he linked Sweden’s membership to the US Congress “simultaneously” agreeing to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. He also said NATO allies including Canada should lift arms embargoes imposed on Ankara.
Kati Piri, a Dutch politician and a former member of the European Parliament, also welcomed the Turkish parliament’s move on Tuesday.
“Finally. Important vote by Turkish National Assembly today. One more hurdle to take. NATO will be stronger with Sweden,” she tweeted.
Some foreign policy experts said on social media that Erdoğan could still prolong the process by not quickly signing the relevant documents and insist on his demands from the West to be fulfilled first.