Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan submitted the protocol on Sweden’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance to the Turkish parliament for ratification. This was reported by world bodies on Monday. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson welcomed the news and said he was looking forward to joining the alliance. Together with Hungary, Turkey is the last NATO country that has not ratified the Scandinavian country’s entry into the alliance.
“Sweden’s accession protocol to NATO was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 23, 2023 and sent to the Turkish Grand National Assembly,” the Turkish government said on the X social network.
It is not yet clear when Türkiye’s parliament will take up the issue. This will first be reviewed by the foreign affairs committee, and only then will the issue be discussed in the plenary session. Erdogan’s party and its allies have a majority in parliament, but not all lawmakers support Sweden’s entry into NATO.
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg welcomed Erdogan’s move. “I look forward to welcoming Sweden as a full NATO ally soon,” Stoltenberg said, according to AFP, adding that the entire alliance would be stronger and safer after Sweden’s entry. According to Reuters, Stoltenberg added that he looked forward to an “accelerated vote” on the ratification of Sweden’s accession in the Turkish parliament. The alliance leader will visit Sweden on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, the United States also welcomed the Turkish president’s move. “We look forward to the protocol being discussed in the Turkish parliament and approved as soon as possible,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular press briefing. “This is a welcome decision,” he added, according to AFP.
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