Turkey approves Sweden’s NATO membership

In a significant step, Turkey's  President Tayyip Erdogan has approved Sweden’s NATO membership following ratification by Parliament on Tuesday.  The Presidency's Communications Directorate said President Erdogan signed the presidential decree on the Nordic country's accession into the military alliance and approved the relevant protocol. The law has now come into effect. Earlier on Tuesday, the Turkish parliament ratified Sweden's membership in a 287 to 55 vote.

 

Admission of a new member requires the unanimous support of all NATO members, and Hungary is now the only ally not to have ratified



Sweden's accession.

 

Sweden and Finland had applied for NATO membership in May 2022 following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Finland joined the alliance as its 31st member in April 2023.

The US has welcomed the step. In a social media post on X, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said they welcome Turkish President Erdogan’s signature of the Articles of Ratification for Sweden’s NATO membership.  They look forward to receiving the instruments of ratification in Washington and welcoming Sweden as NATO’s 32nd Ally.