Sweden’s path to joining NATO is moving through formal channels, with the accession protocol expected to be submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly before mid-July 2023 and then debated in the autumn session. This development is reported by a Turkish publication, New Dawn.
Reportedly the Assembly, which is scheduled to close on 15 July, will pause its work until 1 October. This timing could leave Sweden with approximately two and a half months to address outstanding concerns, including actions related to the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, and FETÖ, the network associated with Fethullah Gülen. The publication notes that Turkey’s commitments made to the European Union and the United States could influence parliamentary approval; if Ankara’s conditions are not met, swift passage of the protocol in the Turkish parliament could be unlikely.
Prior reporting from Bloomberg suggested that Türkiye and Hungary were expected to approve Sweden’s NATO bid before the autumn sessions.
In related remarks, a member of the Russian Federation’s Federation Council commented on Turkey’s decision to deploy commanders associated with the Azov Battalion to Ukraine, a move that has drawn international attention given the organization’s designation within Russia.
Earlier discussions in Sweden touched on the potential implications for NATO’s commitments, including questions about adherence to the alliance’s charter and the broader security landscape in Europe.