After Turkey’s Vote, Sweden Edges Closer to Joining NATO
STOCKHOLM—Sweden is one step closer to NATO membership after the Turkish parliament in Ankara voted yes. A signature from Turkey’s president and approval from Hungary are now needed for Sweden to join NATO.
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström hopes that President Erdogan will not delay the decision any longer.
“This is something the president can do quickly,” said Foreign Minister Tobias Billström to the Swedish edition of The Epoch Times.
Since Sweden’s NATO application was submitted in 2022, Turkey has demanded to buy F-16 fighter jets from the United States in order to approve Sweden’s membership.
Relations between Turkey and the United States have been chilly in recent years and have mainly revolved around fighter jets and military technology. Turkey was originally supposed to purchase 100 F-35s from the United States, making it the first country in Europe to use the new aircraft.
However, the United States excluded Turkey from the cooperation after it chose to buy S-400 anti-aircraft missiles from Russia in 2017.
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For the United States, this meant a high risk of leaking sensitive information about the U.S. aircraft to Russia, including via the targeting radar of the Russian missile system.
Relations with the United States worsened after the missile system was test-fired and the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey, completely banning Turkey from buying U.S. military equipment.
With the vote in the Turkish parliament, Hungary is now the furthest from ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership, and the government received a letter from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán yesterday. Mr. Orbán stated on X that he has invited Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to Hungary to negotiate Sweden’s NATO membership.
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström told the Swedish edition of The Epoch Times that what is posted on X is not necessarily what is written in the letter, and stated that the letter will be reviewed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the government gives a response.
“I see no reason to negotiate in this situation,” Billström said.
The Hungarian opposition has requested an extraordinary meeting to vote on Sweden’s membership. The Hungarian opposition, led by the social democratic MSZP, is very critical of Hungarian President Viktor Orbán.
