STOCKHOLM—Sweden is one step closer to NATO membership after the Turkish parliament in Ankara voted in favor of it; a signature from Turkey’s president and approval from Hungary are the only remaining requirements.
Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said he hopes that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won’t delay the decision any longer.
“This is something the president can do quickly,” Mr. Billstrom told The Epoch Times.
Since Sweden’s NATO application was submitted in 2022, Turkey has demanded approval to buy F-16 fighter jets from the United States in order to approve Sweden’s membership.
Relations between Turkey and the United States have been chilly in recent years and have mainly revolved around fighter jets and military technology. Turkey was originally supposed to purchase 100 F-35s from the United States, making it the first country in Europe to use the new aircraft.
However, the United States excluded Turkey from military cooperation after it chose to buy S-400 anti-aircraft missiles from Russia in 2017, as that meant a high risk of leaking sensitive information about the U.S. aircraft to Russia, including via the targeting radar of the Russian missile system.
Turkish–U.S. relations worsened after the missile system was test-fired and the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey, completely banning Turkey from buying U.S. military equipment.
With the vote in the Turkish parliament, Hungary is now the furthest from ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership, and the Swedish government recently received a letter from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Mr. Orbán stated on social media platform X that he has invited Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to Hungary to negotiate Sweden’s NATO membership.
Mr. Billstrom said that what is posted on X isn’t necessarily what is written in the letter and that the letter will be reviewed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the government gives a response.
“I see no reason to negotiate in this situation,” Mr. Billstrom said.
The Hungarian opposition has requested an extraordinary meeting to vote on Sweden’s membership. The Hungarian opposition, led by the social democratic MSZP, is very critical of Mr. Orbán.
