In a significant development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support Sweden’s application to join NATO by forwarding it to the Turkish parliament for approval. The announcement was made by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg following discussions held in Vilnius between Erdogan, Stoltenberg, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Stoltenberg hailed the decision as a historic day, expressing his satisfaction that Erdogan had agreed to submit the Accession Protocol for Sweden’s NATO membership to the Grand National Assembly at the earliest opportunity. He also highlighted the commitment of Turkey’s president to collaborate closely with the assembly for the swift ratification of the protocol.
Turkey had previously been holding up Sweden’s NATO membership application due to objections over Stockholm’s sheltering of Kurdish activists, who Ankara considers as terrorists. However, this recent development indicates a shift in Turkey’s stance.
In a related demand, President Erdogan called upon the European Union to revive Turkey’s halted bid for EU membership as a precondition for Sweden joining NATO. This highlights Turkey’s insistence on progress regarding its own aspirations to join the EU.
A separate joint statement was also issued, outlining the agreement between Turkey and Sweden. It emphasized that Sweden would actively support efforts to rejuvenate Turkey’s EU accession process. This support includes initiatives such as the modernization of the EU-Turkey Customs Union and visa liberalization. Additionally, the statement highlighted cooperation in counterterrorism efforts and the intention to strengthen bilateral trade ties between Turkey and Sweden.
The decision by Turkey to back Sweden’s NATO membership bid marks a significant diplomatic development, indicating a potential shift in Turkey’s foreign policy stance. The revival of Turkey’s EU membership bid serves as a crucial precondition in this agreement, highlighting the intricate dynamics at play in the region. As these events unfold, the international community will be closely watching the progress and implications of these diplomatic maneuvers.
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