The foreign affairs committee of the Turkish parliament approved Türkiye’s ratification of the accession of Sweden to NATO yesterday, clearing the way for a vote in the full parliament. Before the pivotal vote, Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar briefed the committee on Sweden’s NATO membership process, and lawmakers weighed in on the proposal, reported the official Anadolu Agency. “It is unrealistic to expect that the Swedish authorities will immediately fulfill all of our demands. This is a process, and this process requires long-term and consistent effort,” he said, reported The Associated Press, adding that Türkiye would continue to monitor Sweden’s progress.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom hailed the news, saying on X: “We welcome the approval of Sweden’s NATO membership application in the Foreign Affairs Committee in Türkiye. The next step will be the Parliament voting on this matter. We eagerly look forward to becoming a NATO member.”
