Breaking - Sweden’s NATO application

The Turkish Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee has approved Sweden’s NATO application clearing the way for a full parliamentary vote. According to Turkish journalist Ragip Soylu the debate within the committee was “really tense” and lasted for hours before it was approved to be sent to the parliament floor. Soylu says the timeline for the key parliamentary vote on Sweden’s NATO application is still unclear.

“The parliament might debate it later this week for the final vote if Ankara wants to ratify it before the New Year.”

Turkey has been slow walking the vote on Sweden’s NATO bid for months with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan making constantly shifting demands for Turkey’s support despite twice reaching tripartite agreements to hold a vote to approve the application.

The most recent demand by Erdogan links approval of Sweden’s NATO bid to the American government approving the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

Sweden needs unanimous support from all 31 NATO member nations in order to join the military alliance. To date, Turkey and Hungary are the only two who have yet to hold a ratification vote.