The Turkish President submitted the accession protocol to Parliament for ratification.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed Sweden’s accession protocol to NATO membership. The ministry responsible for communications published it on platform X. The protocol was therefore handed over to Parliament for ratification – approval is considered likely.
Erdoğan hesitated for a long time when it came to the accession of Sweden and Finland. Scandinavian countries do not oppose terrorist organizations vehemently enough, Erdoğan said, referring to the banned PKK and its Syrian offshoots. Furthermore, supporters and sympathizers could remain in both countries unmolested, according to Ankara’s accusation. Turkey has made demands for the two countries to join NATO, such as stricter anti-terrorism laws and, more recently, the resumption of suspended EU accession negotiations. In any case, Finland received the green light from Ankara in the spring, while Erdoğan still had Sweden struggling.
In light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Sweden and Finland have applied to join NATO in May 2022.
(ed.)