Before summit in Lithuania
“Historic”: This is how the NATO partners react to Erdogan’s yes to Sweden’s accession
Jens Stoltenberg (2nd from left), Secretary General of NATO, talks to Recep Tayyip Erdogan (l), President of Turkey, Ulf Kristersson (2nd from right), Prime Minister of Sweden, and Yasar Guler (r), Minister of Defense of Turkey
© Yves Herman/Pool Reuters/AP/DPA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s blockade of Sweden’s accession to NATO lasted for months. Shortly before the NATO summit in Vilnius came the surprising breakthrough: Erdogan gave the go-ahead and wanted to submit the application for membership to parliament. This is how the NATO partners react.
After months of resistance, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cleared the way for Sweden to join NATO. “Sweden will become a full member of the alliance,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday after mediation talks with Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. Erdogan pledged to ensure ratification of Sweden’s accession act by his country’s parliament, according to a statement.
According to Stoltenberg, this should be done “as soon as possible”. In return, Sweden signed a “security pact” with Turkey and promised a “continued fight against terrorism”. Erdogan had accused the government in Stockholm of not doing enough against extremists from the Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK. Stoltenberg also wants to use a special representative for the fight against terrorism in the military alliance for the first time.
Türkiye blocked Sweden’s NATO membership application for a long time
The NATO partners should have breathed a sigh of relief after the news. This is what they said after saying yes Erdogan:
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö: “I have often said that Finland’s NATO membership is not complete without Sweden’s membership. Now we are a significant step closer to completion. With Sweden, the entire alliance will be stronger.”
Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway: “Historical news for Sweden, Norway, the Nordic region and NATO. We welcome the agreement between Stoltenberg, Erdogan and Kristersson tonight. A united Nordic region in NATO makes the alliance stronger and our region more secure.”
Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister of Germany: “Good news from Vilnius: The way is finally clear for Turkey to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership. Our joint efforts have paid off. At 32, we are all safer together. Congratulations, Sweden!”
Manfred Weber, leader of the EPP party and parliamentary group in the European Parliament: “Fantastic news from Vilnius: Sweden’s membership of NATO has now been approved by all sides. This is a great result for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and for Europe. It makes us all stronger. The #VilniusNATOSummit is already historic. Congratulations Ulf !”
Margus Tsahkna, Foreign Minister of Estonia: “Great news! Turkey’s acceptance of Sweden’s NATO membership is a crucial step towards Sweden’s NATO membership and makes the Baltic Sea a NATO sea. We look forward to welcoming Sweden to the Alliance soon and strengthening our collective security.” ”
James Cleverly, UK Foreign Secretary: “Sweden joining NATO is in everyone’s interests. Their entry makes us all safer. The UK welcomes the steps Turkey has taken today to move towards that goal. We remain standing with our Swedish friends.”
Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: “This is a historic moment for NATO that makes us all safer. Sweden, we look forward to welcoming you to the Alliance.”
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission: “A historic step in Vilnius. I welcome the important step that Turkey has promised to ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO.”
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Foreign Minister of Denmark: “I just congratulated my Swedish colleague on the months of diplomatic efforts that tonight laid the final stone on the way to Sweden’s NATO membership. The whole Nordic region in NATO makes the world a safer place and creates security in all the democracies around the Baltic Sea.”
US President Joe Biden: “I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey to strengthen defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic region. I am pleased to welcome Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally. And I thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership.”
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Alongside Hungary, Turkey has so far been the only one of the 31 NATO countries whose parliament has not yet ratified Sweden’s act of accession. Turkey has accused Sweden of being a haven for “terrorists,” meaning members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). In addition, Erdogan recently expressed sharp criticism of a Koran burning in Stockholm.
It is still unclear when exactly Erdogan’s positive signal will come. The next session of Turkey’s parliament is scheduled for Tuesday, which means it could, at least in theory, give its approval while the two-day summit in Vilnius is underway. If the Hungarian parliament then also ratifies quickly, Sweden could soon officially become the 32nd member of NATO.