Sweden’s NATO Membership Process Faces Turkey’s Parliament Review
The path for Sweden to join NATO remains a live topic in Turkey, with discussions moving toward consideration in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Reports from Anatolia, cited by a news agency, quote Numan Kurtulmuş, the head of Turkey’s legislature, noting that the matter could be forwarded after a session in Prague. He indicated that once the trip to Prague is complete, the proposal would be forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Commission, and from there it may proceed to the general assembly for a vote. Kurtulmuş stressed that MPs would decide as soon as possible, underscoring the urgency attached to the legislative process.
Sweden and Finland both submitted applications to join NATO in May 2023, but their accession has stalled as Ankara and Budapest have yet to grant ratification. The status of Sweden’s membership protocol has been a focal point in Turkish political circles, with observers noting that no firm deadlines were set at the October 24 session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The sense of urgency around ratification has persisted amid broader regional security discussions.
Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg signaled, based on information from the Swedish cabinet, a push to have Sweden admitted as a member by the end of November. This proposed timeline reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts to align member states and address concerns raised by Turkey and Hungary.
In recent days, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan indicated that the protocol regarding Sweden’s NATO membership is expected to receive approval from the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The development fits into a pattern of high-level statements about Türkiye’s role in shaping alliance expansion and its security commitments in Europe.
On broader regional questions, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered his own assessment of Ukraine’s path to NATO membership, suggesting there are specific hurdles that need addressing. Scholz’s remarks contribute to the wider debate about how alliance expansion interacts with the security dynamics of Eastern Europe and the ongoing conflict in that region. The conversations around Sweden’s entry are intertwined with these larger strategic considerations, even as the domestic legislative process in Turkey continues to unfold.
Analysts emphasize that credible progress hinges on aligning concerns and securing political consensus within all involved capitals. For Sweden, the eventual ratification would mark a significant shift in its security orientation and regional partnerships, reinforcing its commitment to collective defense and transatlantic cooperation. For Turkey and Hungary, the decision reflects domestic political calculations as well as strategic assessments of NATO’s evolving role in regional and global security dynamics. The overall trajectory points to a cautious but persistent effort to conclude the accession process, even as periodic delays and debates surface in public discourse. In the end, the path forward will depend on the ability of all parties to translate diplomatic goodwill into formal approval at the national level, a process that remains central to NATO’s enlargement agenda.