Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, gave formal approval to Ankara’s decision endorsing Sweden’s membership in NATO. The presidential decree, which confirms the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s approval of the protocol, appeared in the Official Gazette after being issued. This marks a clear step in aligning Turkey with the alliance’s expansion efforts, as reported by NTV and other outlets.
On January 23, the Turkish Grand National Assembly voted to confirm Sweden’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The tally stood at 287 votes in favor, 55 against, and 4 abstentions among the 346 members present, signaling broad parliamentary support for Sweden’s entry despite earlier hesitations.
Following Ankara’s endorsement, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg publicly commended Turkey for approving Sweden’s membership, highlighting the alliance’s unity and the importance of a unified front in facing shared security challenges across Europe and beyond.
Sweden and Finland initiated their NATO applications on May 18, 2023, marking a historic shift in the security posture of Northern Europe. While Finland’s bid progressed with approval, Sweden’s path encountered delays as Türkiye and Hungary withheld ratification for a period. Hungary had remained the single member state yet to ratify Sweden’s accession, underscoring the diplomatic complexities that can accompany alliance expansion.
In a related development, former Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson affirmed his country’s commitment to NATO membership, underscoring the strategic rationale behind joining the alliance and reinforcing public support for Sweden’s role within the collective defense structure. The sequence of events illustrates how regional security dynamics, parliamentary processes, and international diplomacy converge to shape NATO’s evolving membership landscape, with Sweden moving closer to full participation in alliance commitments and interoperability among member nations becoming more seamless over time.