Turkish lawmakers have approved a long-delayed bill on Sweden’s bid to become the 32nd member of NATO.
The Turkish parliament voted on the bill after a debate in the Grand National Assembly.
A total of 346 lawmakers participated in the voting, with 287 votes in favor, 55 against, and four abstentions.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to sign the bill into law within a few days, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson welcomed the approval of Turkish parliament.
“Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO,” he wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
With Türkiye’s ratification, Hungary remains the only NATO member country that hasn’t approved Sweden’s application to join the military alliance.
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Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO after Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine in 2022, whereas their accession requires the unanimous approval of all members of NATO.
Türkiye approved Finland’s NATO bid in March last year but delayed Sweden’s accession, demanding the Nordic country further address Ankara’s security concerns.
Sweden’s NATO accession protocol was signed and submitted to the parliament for ratification by Erdogan, last year October.
The foreign affairs committee of the Turkish parliament approved Sweden’s NATO bid following negotiation last year December, in a key step to put it to a full parliamentary vote.
The United States pressured Türkiye to approve Sweden’s accession to NATO, however, Ankara delayed its ratification to press Washington to allow the sale of F-16 fighter jets.
Turkish lawmakers voted on the bill on Sweden’s NATO bid at the Grand National Assembly, Staff members count votes at the Grand National Assembly in Ankara, Türkiye, on Jan. 23,
Turkish lawmakers approved the long-delayed bill on Sweden’s bid to become the 32nd member of NATO, on Tuesday. (Xinhua/NAN)
