Erdogan proposed ratifying the protocol on Sweden’s membership in NATO

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed that the country’s parliament ratify the protocol on Sweden’s accession to NATO. This was announced by the Turkish Presidential Administration on X (formerly Twitter).

Erdogan signed the protocol on October 23 and submitted it to parliament for ratification. The presidential administration did not provide any other details.

Sweden asked for NATO membership four months after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine in February 2022. At approximately the same time, Finland announced its intention to join the North Atlantic Alliance, which was accepted into the military bloc in April 2023.

Initially, it was assumed that Sweden and Finland would be admitted to NATO at the same time, but Sweden’s entry into NATO was blocked by Turkey, which demanded that Stockholm fulfill its obligations to combat terrorism. Back in September Erdogan saidthat the steps taken by Sweden to join the alliance are not enough.

Also, the agreement on admitting Sweden to NATO has not yet been ratified by Hungary. According to the rules of the alliance, its expansion is possible only with the approval of new members by all existing members.