The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Parliament today said yes to Sweden's NATO membership for the first time. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom celebrated this vote on social media and recalled that “the next step” was now necessary, namely the ratification in Parliament of the Accession Treaty, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent to Parliament in October after After paralyzing the process for over a year, he denounced Sweden's lack of cooperation in the fight against the Kurdish groups, which he considered terrorists. The vote in Parliament is currently not planned.
Erdogan's approval in July
On July 10, Turkish President Erdogan gave the green light for Sweden's membership in NATO. The announcement was made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “I am pleased to announce that President Erdogan has agreed to submit the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible. And to work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification,” Stoltenberg said. But what did Erdogan achieve to give Stockholm the green light to join the alliance? The answer lies in Stoltenberg's own words.
“The memorandum concluded a year ago at the Madrid summit has delivered its results,” he said. “It has contributed to our fight against terrorism. It guaranteed Turkey greater security and a stronger NATO. Since our agreement in Madrid, Sweden and… Turkey have worked closely together to address the security issues raised by Ankara. “As part of this process, Sweden has amended its constitution, amended its laws, significantly expanded its counter-terrorism cooperation against the PKK and resumed arms exports to Turkey,” the NATO Secretary General said.
“The cooperation between Sweden and Turkey in the fight against terrorism will continue even after Stockholm's membership in NATO.” “Turkey and Sweden have agreed to conclude a new bilateral security agreement. NATO will also significantly intensify its work in this area. Completing Sweden's accession process to NATO is a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical moment. “Sweden's membership makes us all stronger and safer.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson therefore emphasized on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius that Europe and Turkey had “close relations”. We are promoting closer relations, modernizing the customs union, achieving better results in visa regulation, etc. This is such fertile ground for closer cooperation.” The overhaul of the customs union is one of the quid pro quos that Erdogan has given in return for a green light for Sweden's membership demands in NATO.
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