Erdogan approves Sweden's membership in NATO

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday approved Sweden's application to join NATO, ending a months-long delay in Turkey's confirmation process.

Hungary now remains the only obstacle in Stockholm's path to joining the military alliance.

Mr Erdogan's signature was the final step in the process after the request was ratified by the Turkish parliament. The approval came about 20 months after Stockholm applied to join the alliance after Russia's aggression in Ukraine began.

"We welcome Turkey's ratification of Sweden's application to join NATO. We have reached a crucial historical moment on the road to full NATO membership," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on social media network X.

"Now all that remains is Hungary's ratification so that Sweden can become a member of NATO," Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in X.

Ratification by Turkey's parliament on Tuesday resolved the biggest remaining obstacle to Sweden's entry into NATO. The Turkish presidency said that Mr. Erdogan had approved the protocol of Stockholm's accession to the alliance.

The delay had angered some of Ankara's allies, but on the other hand provided Turkey with some advantages.

Ankara now expects the United States to begin work to secure approval from the US Congress for the $20 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

Mr. Erdogan had conditioned the approval of Sweden's request on the approval of the sale of the planes.

The approval comes a day after US President Joe Biden sent a letter to the heads of key congressional committees informing them that he intended to begin the formal process of announcing the sale of the F-16 jets once Ankara completes the approval process for Sweden's membership in the NATO.

According to NATO rules, the final approval document from Ankara is now sent to Washington./Voice of America

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