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Sweden's NATO entry gains approval from Turkey after a 20-month postponement.

Turkey's parliament, led by President Erdogan, has finally approved Sweden's NATO membership bid after a 20-month delay, with Hungary being the lone holdout. The move follows tensions over Sweden and Finland's NATO aspirations, linked to Turkey's concerns about terrorism. The approval is seen as a crucial step in expanding the Western military alliance.

Sweden's NATO entry gains approval from Turkey after a 20-month postponement. Image Source -www.khon2.com

Turkey's parliament, headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, granted approval to Sweden's NATO membership bid on Tuesday, concluding a 20-month-long delay. This marks a significant stride in expanding the Western military alliance, removing the largest obstacle in Sweden's accession process. The general assembly's vote came after Sweden sought NATO membership in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The ratification now awaits Erdogan's signature, with Hungary remaining the sole member state yet to approve Sweden's entry. Hungary, asserting NATO membership is not a priority for Sweden, expressed reservations based on perceived actions. Turkey and Hungary, maintaining amicable ties with Russia, differ from some NATO allies in their stance on Moscow's actions.

Despite criticizing Western sanctions on Russia, Turkey opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The delay in Turkey's approval allowed for negotiations and concessions. Initially objecting to Sweden and Finland's NATO aspirations in 2022, Turkey raised concerns about the protection of groups Ankara deemed terrorists.

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Sweden, responding to Ankara's demands, introduced an anti-terrorism bill and eased arms-export policies. Erdogan linked Sweden's approval to the U.S. sanctioning F-16 fighter jet sales to Turkey, a move supported by the White House. However, U.S. congressional approval remains pending, with concerns over NATO enlargement and Turkey's human rights record.

Turkey's general assembly, convening at 1200 GMT, witnessed widespread support for Sweden's NATO bid from Erdogan's AK Party, nationalist allies MHP, and the main opposition CHP. However, nationalist and Islamist parties opposed the move. The approval signifies a diplomatic breakthrough and sets the stage for Sweden's full-fledged integration into NATO.

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Arijit Dutta

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