Sweden’s NATO Accession Protocol Presented in Turkish Grand National Assembly – Breaking News from Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Signs Sweden’s NATO Accession Protocol
In a significant development, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has signed Sweden’s NATO Accession Protocol. The news was confirmed by the Presidency Directorate of Communications, which stated that President Erdogan signed the protocol on October 23, 2023, and forwarded it to the Turkish Grand National Assembly for further action.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his optimism about Sweden’s accession to NATO, saying, “I hope that with the step taken by Turkey, we will accept Sweden into NATO very soon.” Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of a quick vote in the Turkish Grand National Assembly to expedite the process.
The United States also welcomed the progress, with a statement from the US State Department, stating, “We welcome the submission of Sweden’s NATO accession protocol to the Parliament and expect it to be passed by the Parliament as soon as possible.”
Now the focus shifts to the Turkish Grand National Assembly and how the process will unfold. The protocol has been sent to the Assembly, where it will be reviewed by the Foreign Affairs Commission. Once the commission approves the text, it will proceed to the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly for further consideration. The approval of the General Assembly will mark the completion of the assembly process.
Once Turkey delivers the document approving Sweden’s NATO membership to the United States, the custodian of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty, Sweden will officially become the 32nd member of NATO.
It is noteworthy to mention that Finland had also applied for NATO membership in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Finland’s application was quickly approved by most alliance members. However, Turkey had previously expressed concerns about Sweden’s membership, citing its stance on the fight against terrorism.
As the process moves forward, all eyes will be on the Turkish Grand National Assembly, eagerly awaiting the final decision regarding Sweden’s NATO membership.
