Turkey Approves NATO Membership for Sweden

NATO member Turkey endorsed membership for Sweden after delaying approval for 20 months. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s party holds a majority in Turkey’s general assembly, which voted 287-55 to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership today. Erdoğan is known for taking an independent stance for Turkey and balancing diplomatic ties with the West and Russia. Receiving U.S. F-16 fighter jets was a prerequisite for Turkey approving NATO membership for Sweden.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reponded to Turkey’s support, saying on X, “Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO. Positive that the Grand General Assembly of Türkiye has voted in favour of Sweden’s NATO accession.”

Now with Turkey supporting Sweden’s NATO membership, Hungary is the only member state that has not approved Sweden joining the bloc. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced today that he invited Kristersson to visit and negotiate Hungary’s support for joining NATO.

Orbán announced his invitation to Kristersson, saying on X, “Today I sent an invitation letter to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson @SwedishPM for a visit to Hungary to negotiate on Sweden’s NATO accession.”