The foreign policy committee of the Turkish parliament has postponed a decision on Sweden joining NATO. MPs from President Erdogan’s ruling party had expressed doubts about the implementation of promises made in Stockholm.
Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO accession continues to be delayed. After hours of debate, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Parliament concluded that there was still a need for further discussion on the relevant bill.
It is not sufficiently clear to what extent Sweden has fulfilled its obligations to take stronger action against terrorism and PKK activists in Sweden, it said. A member of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP therefore requested that approval of Sweden’s accession be postponed.
The issue is expected to be put back on the agenda next week, said committee chairman Fuat Oktay. However, he did not give a specific timetable.
Decision is delayed
Before a vote in Parliament to ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO, the Foreign Affairs Committee must first approve the law. Erdogan’s party and its allies have a majority in parliament. Sweden’s entry into the Western military alliance has now been delayed again.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had previously welcomed the fact that ratification would now be discussed in the Turkish parliament. NATO will become stronger if Sweden joins the alliance. “We look forward to welcoming Sweden as a full alliance partner very soon,” said Stoltenberg.
Turkish accusations against Sweden
After months of blockage, Turkish President Erdogan submitted the relevant law to parliament for ratification just a few weeks ago. Turkey initially refused to accept Sweden, citing, among other things, the fact that the country was accepting extremists from the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK).
Erdogan is expected to visit Berlin on Friday. According to reports, the pending Swedish accession to NATO will also be discussed.
Türkiye and Hungary are stopping Sweden from joining NATO
Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s accession was already sealed in April.
All existing members must agree to new NATO membership. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO countries that have not yet ratified Sweden’s accession.
With information from Uwe Lüb, ARD Studio Istanbul