After years of opposition, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Monday to pave the way for Sweden to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced, bolstering the western alliance’s power amid Russian objections.
NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey has agreed to back Sweden's NATO accession bid.
Erdogan has long opposed Sweden’s entrance to the alliance over claims the Scandinavian country has not cracked down on its ties to Kurdish groups—which Turkey considers terrorist organizations.
On Monday, however, he agreed to move forward with a protocol to allow Sweden to become the 32nd member of the organization, Stoltenberg announced, following talks in Vilnius, Lithuania, between Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Erdogan had simultaneously been pushing for Turkey to join the European Union, telling reporters on Monday Turkey should be admitted to the 27-country bloc before Turkey would lift its opposition to Sweden joining NATO—all NATO members are required to approve new admissions, meaning Turkey’s sole resistance was an effective veto on the measure.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Finland And Sweden Closer To Joining NATO As Turkey Drops Objection (Forbes)