The Turkish opposition appears prepared to back Sweden’s bid to join the North Atlantic Alliance ahead of the July NATO summit, provided it can secure victory in the country’s May elections. Swedish radio cites the opposition’s advisor, Ünal Çeviköz, who is aligned with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the candidato of the National Alliance, as a pivotal voice in this negotiation.
Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary contests are anticipated to take place on 14 May, marking a crucial moment for the country’s political trajectory and its alignment with Western security commitments.
On the ballot, the incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stands opposite his main challenger, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who represents the oppositional People’s Alliance and is the sole candidate fielded by those opposing Erdogan’s Republican Alliance.
One senior Turkish figure expressed optimism that the planning and administrative steps could be completed prior to Vilnius, where NATO leaders would convene for a key summit.
Çeviköz assured associates that should the opposition prevail, the new administration would present a concrete plan to support Sweden’s accession to the alliance, reinforcing a broader regional strategy on collective security.
The Ukraine crisis and the broader security context of May 2022 significantly influenced Nordic membership discussions, with Finland and Sweden formally applying to join NATO and seeking timely consideration by alliance officials.
Separately, it was reported that Mykhailo Podolyak, a close adviser to Ukraine’s presidential administration, has emphasized that Ukraine’s active participation in the Vilnius NATO summit hinges on a detailed, credible plan for Ukraine’s eventual integration into the military alliance and the strategic steps required to advance that objective.