Turkey may ratify Sweden's NATO bid by end of year - Reuters
Kyiv • UNN
Turkey's foreign minister informs NATO that Sweden's membership in NATO could be ratified by the end of the year, subject to domestic approval and additional anti-terrorism measures by Sweden.
Turkey has informed NATO that ratification of Sweden's application could could be ratified by the end of the year. In particular, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday to NATO colleagues that he is working hard to ratify Sweden's NATO, which is currently being discussed in the Turkish parliament. He also gave an estimate of the likely timeframe for the Nordic country to officially join the alliance. We are talking about the end of 2023. This was reported to Reuters by a senior representative of the US State Department. US State Department, reports UNN.
I will say that following the meeting, this will be done by the end of the year
Context
It should be noted that a meeting of NATO foreign ministers took place in Brussels on Tuesday, November 28. of NATO foreign ministers took place in Brussels on Tuesday, November 28.
Both Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in May May 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan raised objections to both requests at the time. to both requests because, according to him, the Scandinavian countries protecting those Turkey considers terrorists, as well as their embargoes on defense trade. Turkey supported Finland's request in April, but kept Sweden waiting. Sweden to wait.
Turkey demanded that Sweden take additional steps against local members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
SEE ALSO: Turkey tells NATO that Sweden will not join next week's meeting - Reuters
In response, Stockholm introduced a draft anti-terrorism bill that makes membership in the organization illegal and also lifts restrictions on arms exports to Turkey. The party claims to have fulfilled its part of the agreement signed last year.
To be ratified, the bill must be approved by Turkey's foreign affairs commission before it is put to a vote in parliament, which could take place in a few days or weeks. Erdogan will then sign the law, completing a process whose length has frustrated Ankara's allies and tested its ties with the West.
