A vote in the Turkish parliament on Sweden's membership of NATO is apparently imminent. Parliamentary circles yesterday confirmed relevant media reports to the AFP news agency. Thus, Sweden's accession could be ratified on Thursday.
Broadcaster CNN Türk had already reported that the vote was scheduled for tomorrow. Broadcaster NTV reported that a vote would take place this week, without giving a date. If Turkey ratifies Sweden's admission to the defense alliance, Hungary will remain the only NATO member that has yet to agree to join.
Reaction to the Russian war against Ukraine
In response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, traditionally non-aligned Sweden applied to join NATO together with its neighboring country Finland in May 2022. Finland joined the military alliance in April 2023, while Sweden is still awaiting approval from NATO members Turkey and Hungary.
Ankara made demands
Turkey justified its long hesitation, among other things, with the Swedish authorities' alleged negligent treatment of alleged members of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Sweden then promised, among other things, tougher action against the PKK.
It was only in July that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan finally agreed to give up his veto. The Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee approved the Swedish request in December.
However, Erdogan has now made new demands and made the ratification of Sweden's membership of NATO dependent on US approval of the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. The US government is not opposed to the delivery, but Congress is currently blocking the sale.