Turkey's parliament has finally approved Sweden's NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organization) membership bid, which removes the most significant obstacle to expanding the Western military alliance. This comes after a 20-month delay, during which the approval process was uncertain. Sweden had applied in 2022 to join NATO to strengthen its security in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to a Report by ReutersTurkey's general assembly, where President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling alliance has a majority, voted 287-55 to approve Sweden's initial application. After a four-hour debate, 287 of 346 MPs voted in favour, 35 voted against, and the remainder abstained. Erdoğan, Turkey's president, plans to sign the bill into law in the coming days. This ratification brings Sweden significantly closer to joining the Western military alliance
"I greatly appreciate the Turkish Parliament's decision to approve Sweden's entry into NATO today," U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake said in a written statement on Tuesday.
He said Turkey's "commitment to the NATO Alliance clearly our enduring partnership." as quoted in the report.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom welcomed the Turkish parliament's approval. "We now look forward to President Erdogan signing the ratification document," Billstrom said in a statement.
Reportedly, Erdogan is expected to sign the legislation within days, leaving Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban has good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the only member state that has not approved Sweden's accession.
Earlier on Tuesday, Orban said he had invited his Swedish counterpart to visit and negotiate his country's membership in the bloc. Hungary's parliament is on recess until about mid-February.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey's move, saying: "I also expect Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible."
Turkey and Hungary have better relations with Russia than the other members of the United States-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
While Turkey opposes Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it has criticised Western sanctions against Moscow. Russia, for its part, has warned that if NATO strengthens its military infrastructure in the two Nordic states, it will respond.
Sweden intends to join NATO in May 2022
Sweden announced its intention to join NATO in May 2022 in response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but its membership bid was held up by objections from Turkey. Sweden's membership bid marked a historic shift away from a non-aligned security policy, and it would strengthen NATO's defences in the Baltic Sea region, which faces Russia.
NATO's current members include Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Finland is NATO's newest member, having joined in 2023.
NATO agrees to purchase 155mm artillery ammunition for 1.1 billion euros
NATO signed a 1.1 billion euro ($1.2 billion) contract on Tuesday for hundreds of thousands of 155mm artillery rounds, some of which will be delivered to Ukraine after the latter complained about ammunition shortages. "The war in Ukraine has become a battle of ammunition," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters following a signing ceremony at the Western military alliance's Brussels headquarters.
A NATO official has revealed that Belgium, Lithuania, and Spain have collaborated to purchase artillery ammunition in bulk to take advantage of lower prices. The contract is expected to produce around 220,000 rounds of ammunition, with initial deliveries scheduled for the end of 2025.
(Inputs from agencies)
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