Erdogan
On October 23, 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan submitted a bill approving Sweden’s NATO membership bid to parliament for ratification. This is a significant step, as Turkey has been blocking Sweden’s membership since it applied in May 2022.
Erdoğan’s decision to submit the bill to parliament comes after months of negotiations between Turkey, Sweden, and Finland. Turkey had been demanding that Sweden take steps to crack down on Kurdish militant groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Sweden has agreed to a number of measures, including amending its anti-terrorism laws and extraditing suspected terrorists to Turkey.
The bill is now expected to be debated and voted on by the Turkish parliament. If it is approved, Sweden will be one step closer to becoming a member of NATO.
Sweden’s accession to NATO would be a significant boost for the alliance, as it would add a well-equipped and well-trained military. It would also send a strong message to Russia that NATO is expanding and strengthening its defenses.
The Turkish government has said that it expects a “speedy vote” on the bill in parliament. However, it is unclear when the vote will take place, or whether it will be successful.