News / Turkey

Turkey submits Sweden’s NATO membership protocol to parliament

Monday, 23 October 2023 3:54 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 23 October 2023 4:57 PM ]

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has signed a protocol for Sweden’s admission into NATO, and submitted the document to parliament for ratification.

Erdogan had been delaying ratification of Sweden’s membership, accusing Stockholm of providing sanctuary to elements linked to terrorist groups. Ankara was also angered by a series of Quran-burning incidents in the European country.

A statement from the Turkish presidential communications directorate said on Monday that Erdogan had signed the protocol.

“Sweden NATO membership protocol was signed on October 23, 2023, by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and sent to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.”

It was not immediately known when the protocol would come to the floor.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the announcement as “encouraging,” writing in a post on X, “Now it remains for the parliament to deal with the issue.”

Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in 2022. To join the military alliance, they need the ratification of all 31 NATO allies.

Finland was granted membership in April.

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