Erdogan sends Sweden's NATO membership to parliament for ratification
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposes to the Turkish parliament the ratification of the protocol on Sweden's accession to NATO.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sept 20, 2023 (Greek Prime Minister's Office via AP)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recommended Monday to the Turkish parliament, known as the Grand National Assembly, to approve the agreement concerning Sweden's NATO membership.
"The protocol on Sweden’s accession to NATO was signed by [Turkish] President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 23, 2023 and submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly for consideration," the Turkish Presidency said.
Erdogan's office gave no further information.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the country's parliament on Monday, asserting that ratifying Sweden's NATO bid was not an "urgent" matter. Orban accused Sweden of challenging Hungary's "democratic nature" in his remarks.
Hungary has yet to vote in favor of Sweden's accession to NATO, aligning itself with Turkey, which had previously blocked Sweden's membership but lifted its veto in July.
Orban, who has previously voiced support for Sweden's NATO bid, characterized the issue as a "technicality" in the past. However, he now questions the urgency of the matter.
"I wonder if there is something urgent that would force us to ratify Sweden's NATO bid. I cannot see any such circumstance," Orban stated during the parliamentary session.
Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year, citing changes in the European security picture because of the Ukraine crisis.
As Finland went on to become a member, Turkey, and Hungary stymied Sweden's bid, with Budapest citing grievances over Stockholm's criticism of Hungary's Prime Minister and Ankara accusing Sweden of harboring what it considers Kurdish terrorists and, most recently, meddling in Turkish elections.
Hungary went on to approve Sweden's membership, with Turkey remaining the sole NATO member to refuse it. However, Ankara changed its mind, and all that Sweden's accession into NATO now awaits is Hungary's ratification of the decision
