President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July lifted his objections to Sweden’s membership after Stockholm took steps aimed at cracking down on Kurdish groups that Ankara views as terrorists © Adem ALTAN / AFP

By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee is set to resume discussions on Sweden’s bid to join NATO, marking a critical juncture in diplomatic relations. The deliberations follow recent statements by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who linked Sweden’s NATO membership to U.S. approval of Turkey’s request for F-16 fighter jets.

In July, NATO member Turkey withdrew its objection to Sweden’s entry into the trans-Atlantic alliance. However, the ratification process has encountered obstacles in the Turkish parliament, with accusations that Sweden is not adequately addressing Turkey’s security concerns, particularly regarding its efforts against Kurdish militants and other groups deemed security threats by Ankara.

Erdogan further complicated matters by explicitly tying Sweden’s NATO membership approval to the U.S. Congress’ green light for Turkey’s acquisition of 40 new F-16 fighter jets and kits for modernizing its existing fleet. The Turkish leader urged both legislatures to act “simultaneously” and called for the lifting of arms embargoes imposed on Turkey by Canada and other NATO allies.

While the White House has expressed support for Turkey’s F-16 request, strong opposition within the U.S. Congress to military sales to Turkey adds a layer of complexity to the diplomatic landscape.

Last month, the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee initiated discussions on Sweden’s NATO membership. However, the meeting was abruptly adjourned when lawmakers from Erdogan’s ruling party submitted a motion for postponement. They argued that certain issues required further clarification, and negotiations with Sweden had not sufficiently “matured.”

If the committee approves the discussion’s resumption, Sweden’s NATO bid will face scrutiny by the full assembly. Sweden and Finland, departing from their traditional military nonalignment, sought NATO protection in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland successfully joined NATO in April, becoming the alliance’s 31st member following Turkey’s ratification of its bid.

NATO expansion necessitates unanimous approval from existing members, and Turkey, alongside Hungary, remains an obstacle. Hungary has impeded Sweden’s bid, alleging that Swedish politicians disseminated “blatant lies” about Hungary’s democratic condition. The delays have frustrated other NATO allies eager to integrate Sweden and Finland into the alliance, highlighting the intricate diplomatic challenges at play.