Turkish Parliament Overwhelmingly Backs Sweden’s NATO Membership

The Turkish Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve Sweden’s NATO ascension bid, marking a significant step forward in the Nordic nation’s entry into the 31-member military alliance.

Sweden, previously a participant in the Cold War-era non-aligned movement, along with Finland, officially applied to join NATO following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

After Turkish President Erdogan sent Sweden’s ascension protocol to legislators last month, the foreign affairs parliamentary committee in Turkey voted in favor of bringing Sweden’s bid to the assembly floor.

In Tuesday’s vote, Sweden’s application passed by 287 votes to 55, with four abstentions. Once posted to the Official Gazette, the bid will be officially ratified, leaving Hungary as the only NATO member state that has not approved Sweden’s ascension.

Over the past year, Turkey has politically hindered Sweden’s efforts to join the military alliance, arguing that the country’s refusal to prosecute Kurdish separatist groups like the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is a political insult and a threat to Turkish national security. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

In response to Ankara’s concerns, Sweden has taken extensive steps, updating its anti-terrorism laws and lifting restrictions on arms sales to Turkey. Sweden has also assured the Turkish government of its support for Turkey’s renewed EU ambitions and commitment to close cooperation on counterterrorism issues.

While Turkish leadership has expressed satisfaction with Sweden’s policy adjustments, Erdogan and other high-ranking Turkish politicians still insist that the US sign off on the sale of 40 F-16 fighter jets as a condition for Sweden’s ascension.