Turkey approves Sweden's NATO membership bid

In a major diplomatic development for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Türkiye formally approved Sweden’s bid to join the alliance, clearing a key hurdle in Stockholm’s accession process. On 23 January 2024, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye voted overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership protocol, with 287 legislators supporting the measure and only 55 opposing it, plus four abstentions. Shortly afterward, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed and approved the accession law, completing Türkiye’s constitutional requirements for ratification. Türkiye’s approval ended a prolonged 20-month delay that had frustrated NATO allies and Sweden, who have sought membership since applying in May 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ankara had previously resisted Sweden’s accession, citing concerns over Stockholm’s handling of groups Ankara regards as security threats and broader political issues. However, sustained diplomatic engagement among NATO members and negotiations addressing Turkish security concerns helped pave the way for ratification.