Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to ratify Sweden’s entry into NATO, ending a blockade that disrupted transatlantic efforts to fortify European security following Russia’s launch of a full-scale war in Ukraine.
“This is good for all of us,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Monday in Vilnius. “This is good for Sweden — Sweden will become a full member of the lines. It's good for Turkey, because Turkey is a NATO ally that will benefit from a stronger NATO. And then of course it's good for the whole Alliance.”
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Stoltenberg’s announcement followed a final round of negotiations with Erdogan, who used his effective veto power over Sweden’s accession as leverage to extract political concessions from Stockholm. That process culminated in a last-minute signal that he would not approve Sweden’s entry unless the European Union revived Turkey’s long-dormant bid for membership in the continent’s economic and political bloc — an unrelated issue, but a demand that paid off in the form of new pledges from Sweden and Brussels.
“Sweden will actively support efforts to re integrate Turkey's EU accession process, including modernization of the EU-Turkey a customs union and visa liberalization,” Stoltenberg said. “This is not a NATO issue. This is reflecting a bilateral agreement between an EU member-state — Sweden — and Turkey. But it is part of what we discussed.”
The president welcomed the decision against a backdrop of speculation that Erdogan used the ratification process to pressure the United States to upgrade the Turkish fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets.
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"I welcome the statement issued by Türkiye, Sweden and the NATO Secretary General this evening, including the commitment by President Erdoğan to transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to Türkiye’s Grand National Assembly for swift ratification," President Joe Biden said in a statement issued by the White House. I stand ready to work with President Erdoğan and Türkiye on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area."
"I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally," he continued. "And I thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership."