Erdogan submits Sweden’s Nato protocol to parliament for ratification
Stockholm welcomes the move, which clears the way for it to join the defence alliance
23 October 2023 - 18:07
byReuters
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the UN General Assembly in New York, the US, September 19 2023. Picture: BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS
Ankara — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday submitted a bill approving Sweden’s Nato membership bid to parliament for ratification, the presidency said, in a move welcomed by Stockholm that clears the way for it to join the Western defence alliance.
Erdogan pleased his Nato allies at a summit in July by promising to send the legislation to parliament when it reopened on October 1, having previously raised objections over Sweden’s alleged harbouring of terrorists.
Since parliament reopened, however, Turkish officials have repeatedly said Stockholm needed to take more concrete steps to clamp down on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militia before Ankara could ratify its membership bid. The PKK is deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the US.
On Monday, the bill on approving Sweden finally moved forward.
“The protocol on Sweden’s Nato accession was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 23 2023 and referred to the Grand National assembly of Turkey,” the presidency said on social media platform X without elaborating.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson welcomed the move and said Stockholm was looking forward to becoming a Nato member. “Now it remains for the parliament to deal with the question,” Kristersson said on X.
There is no set time frame for ratification, however. The bill will be put on the agenda of parliament’s foreign affairs commission, which will have to pass it before it can be sent to the general assembly for ratification.
Sweden and Finland applied to join Nato last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s membership was sealed in April, in a historic expansion of the alliance, but Sweden’s bid had been held up by Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey, which has Nato’s second-biggest army, has long been seeking US congressional approval for a $20bn sale of F-16 jets and modernisation kits. Erdogan has previously linked Sweden’s Nato bid to US support for its request.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Erdogan submits Sweden’s Nato protocol to parliament for ratification
Stockholm welcomes the move, which clears the way for it to join the defence alliance
Ankara — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday submitted a bill approving Sweden’s Nato membership bid to parliament for ratification, the presidency said, in a move welcomed by Stockholm that clears the way for it to join the Western defence alliance.
Erdogan pleased his Nato allies at a summit in July by promising to send the legislation to parliament when it reopened on October 1, having previously raised objections over Sweden’s alleged harbouring of terrorists.
Since parliament reopened, however, Turkish officials have repeatedly said Stockholm needed to take more concrete steps to clamp down on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militia before Ankara could ratify its membership bid. The PKK is deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and the US.
On Monday, the bill on approving Sweden finally moved forward.
“The protocol on Sweden’s Nato accession was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 23 2023 and referred to the Grand National assembly of Turkey,” the presidency said on social media platform X without elaborating.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson welcomed the move and said Stockholm was looking forward to becoming a Nato member. “Now it remains for the parliament to deal with the question,” Kristersson said on X.
There is no set time frame for ratification, however. The bill will be put on the agenda of parliament’s foreign affairs commission, which will have to pass it before it can be sent to the general assembly for ratification.
Sweden and Finland applied to join Nato last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s membership was sealed in April, in a historic expansion of the alliance, but Sweden’s bid had been held up by Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey, which has Nato’s second-biggest army, has long been seeking US congressional approval for a $20bn sale of F-16 jets and modernisation kits. Erdogan has previously linked Sweden’s Nato bid to US support for its request.
Reuters
Sabotage may be to blame for damaged sea gas pipeline and cable, Finland says
Russian court extends detention of US journalist
Half of Russians say their salary does not cover basic needs
Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic offences soar in London as Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies
Greenpeace loses legal challenge
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Suicide bombers target government buildings in Turkey
US to sanction Turkish firms over Russia sanctions
Sweden boosts defence spending again over risk from Russia
HELMOED RÖMER HEITMAN: Friends like these hurt SA’s best interests
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.