Turkey’s parliament accepted Sweden’s NATO membership on Tuesday, ending more than a year of delays that hampered Western efforts to demonstrate commitment in the face of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
After receiving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s vocal support, lawmakers voted 287-55 in favor of the Nordic nation’s bid to join the alliance as the 32nd member.
In the upcoming days, the Turkish leader is anticipated to sign Sweden’s ratification document, bringing Ankara’s role in the long-running story to an end.
Ulf Kristersson, Swedish Prime Minister, stated, “Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO”.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the move and urged Hungary to follow the same.
“I also count on Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible”, Stoltenberg noted.
Stoltenberg went on to say, “Sweden’s membership makes NATO stronger and all of us safer”.
Turkey’s green light leaves Budapest as the only holdout in an admission process that Sweden and Finland initiated in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.
After finding fault with Sweden and approving Finland after a few rounds of negotiations, Ankara forced the northern neighbors to separate their applications.
Finland’s participation in NATO in April 2023 extended the length of its border with Russia and strengthened the defences of three tiny Baltic nations that joined the group following the fall of the former Soviet Union.
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