Turkish lawmakers today began debating the long-awaited law to approve Sweden's application for NATO membership, a step that could remove a major obstacle to the Nordic country joining the military alliance.
NATO member Turkey has delayed ratifying Sweden's NATO membership for more than a year, accusing the Nordic country of being too soft on groups Turkey considers security threats. Turkey has demanded concessions from Sweden, including a tougher stance on Kurdish militants and members of a network Ankara blames for the failed 2016 coup.
Turkey has also been angered by a series of demonstrations in Sweden by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party in Turkey, as well as Koran-burning protests that have raised tensions in Muslim countries.
Last month, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent the accession protocol to lawmakers for approval, the parliamentary foreign relations committee gave its approval for Sweden's membership, the first step in the legislative process.
President Erdogan's ruling party and its nationalist allies form the majority in parliament, and the accession protocol was expected to be approved during a vote on Tuesday evening. It enters into force after publication in the official gazette of Turkey, which is expected to happen quickly.
According to Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar, Sweden has made efforts to meet Turkey's demands, including removing restrictions on defense purchases and changing anti-terrorism laws.
Sweden has promised closer cooperation with Turkey in the field of counter-terrorism and support for Turkey's aim to revive its efforts to join the European Union.
Turkey's main opposition party also supports Sweden's NATO membership, but the center-right party and the pro-Kurdish party have announced they will oppose Sweden's membership.
President Erdogan has linked the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership to the US Congress's approval of Turkey's request to purchase 40 F-16 military aircraft and other equipment to modernize the Turkish air force. He has also urged Canada and other NATO allies to lift arms embargoes on Turkey.
US President Joe Biden has never formally linked the sale of F-16 planes to Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership. But a number of influential lawmakers in Congress have said they will not support the sale unless and until Turkey signs Sweden's NATO membership. These lawmakers have the power to block, or at least delay, the sale.
If and when Turkey ratifies Sweden's NATO membership, administration officials say they expect the sale of the F-16s to happen quickly.
In Washington, White House national security spokesman John Kirby stated that the White House is closely following the actions of the Turkish parliament.
“As the President has stated, Sweden is more than ready to become a NATO ally”, stated Mr. Kirby. “And we are welcoming its membership in the alliance, but I will not comment before the decision of the Turkish parliament.”
He added: “It is time for Sweden to become a NATO ally.” It has a modern, advanced military – which we are very much attuned to. And they will add important military capacities to the alliance”.
Along with Turkey, Hungary is also delaying Sweden's NATO membership, accusing Swedish diplomats of “telling lies” about the state of democracy in Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Tuesday that he has sent a letter to his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson to visit Budapest for talks on Sweden's NATO membership.
NATO membership requires the approval of all member states, and Turkey and Hungary are the two countries delaying the process, which has angered other NATO allies who want Sweden and Finland to join as soon as possible. .