Sweden’s Crucial Decision on Joining NATO
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly is currently in the midst of discussions regarding the protocol approving Sweden’s participation in NATO. The protocol, which requires a majority vote in the 27-member commission in order to be referred to the General Assembly of the Parliament, has been the focus of intense deliberation since it was transferred to the committee on October 25th.
The fate of Sweden’s NATO membership has also been a topic of discussion in recent high-level meetings, including the meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Joe Biden. President Erdoğan revealed that Biden had proposed to simultaneously proceed with the approval process for the F-16 modernization and the Swedish membership process.
With the second meeting of the commission looming, all eyes are on the stance that each party will take. The CHP and İYİ Party have yet to declare their position, opting to await further information before making a decision. On the other hand, the MHP’s position remains unclear, while the DEM Party has already indicated that they will vote “no” at the meeting.
Ultimately, in order for the protocol to be fully approved, it must also be accepted in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, after which President Erdoğan will sign the bill, completing the process. The outcome of the committee’s discussions is eagerly awaited as the implications of Sweden’s NATO membership hang in the balance.
