Sweden's NATO membership 'approved' by majority vote

The legislative proposal regarding the ratification of Sweden's NATO accession protocol has been approved by the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.

While the AKP, MHP, and CHP voted in favor of the proposal, the İYİ Party voted against it.

The DEM Party did not participate in the vote.

Sweden's NATO accession protocol was approved by the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.

The final decision for Sweden will be made by the General Assembly.

WHEN WILL THE PROPOSAL COME TO PARLIAMENT?

Following the completion of the committee stage, all eyes are now on the General Assembly. There is no set schedule for when the proposal regarding Sweden's NATO membership will be addressed in the General Assembly.

Following the deliberations on the Omnibus Bill, the General Assembly will go into recess until January 16, 2024. A simple majority is required for the proposal, which is expected to be addressed after this date, to be approved in the General Assembly.

Sweden had decided to join NATO along with Finland following the start of the Ukraine-Russia war. However, Turkey objected to the membership of both countries. The objections were based on the two countries' relations with terrorist organizations, the failure to extradite members of terrorist organizations, and arms embargoes against Turkey.

At the NATO summit held in Madrid in May last year, Sweden and Finland signed a trilateral memorandum containing commitments to Turkey. Once they fulfilled their obligations within the framework of the established permanent mechanism, Ankara granted approval for Finland's membership.

Sweden's NATO membership process, however, was suspended due to both its failure to fulfill its obligations and provocative acts directed at the Quran and President Erdoğan. Following the NATO Summit held in Vilnius in July, a decision was made to submit Sweden's NATO Accession Protocols to Parliament.

On October 23, President Erdoğan submitted the proposal regarding Sweden's NATO membership process to Parliament.

News Source: 12punto