TOPLINE
Sweden’s push to join NATO took a step forward Tuesday, after the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee ended a year-long delay and voted to allow the historically Nordic country to join the Western military alliance, according to Turkish media outlets—a step that could help Sweden end its longstanding neutrality amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
KEY FACTS
Turkey’s full parliament still needs to approve the decision, though no date for a vote has been set.
Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström said on X the country welcomed the news and looks forward to becoming a member of NATO.
To join NATO, countries need unanimous approval from all 31 existing member countries—Turkey and Hungary have been the lone holdouts in Sweden’s bid, and Hungary has not yet started the process of approving Sweden’s membership.
KEY BACKGROUND
Sweden and fellow Nordic country Finland both made moves to drop their historic position of neutrality by making a bid to join NATO in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland successfully joined the alliance in April, but Sweden’s bid has taken longer, with Turkey and Hungary each stalling the process. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan previously raised objections about both Sweden and Finland’s memberships, citing concern that Sweden in particular has been too lenient on Kurdish groups that the country views as terrorists. Last year, Turkey, Finland and Sweden struck a deal to bring Sweden and Finland into NATO, with Sweden offering to pass new anti-terrorism laws. Erdogan has suggested he could approve Sweden’s NATO bid if the United States lets Turkey buy F-16s.
TANGENT
Hungarian President Viktor Orban said last week that there was “no great willingness” among Hungary’s parliament to rush a vote on Sweden’s NATO membership, according to Reuters. Hungarian leaders have said Sweden has unfairly accused Hungary of eroding democratic rights—as Orban has frequently been accused of authoritarian tendencies. The country’s parliament will reportedly resume in mid-February.
BIG NUMBER
32. That’s how many countries would make up the NATO alliance if Sweden’s membership is ultimately approved.