ANKARA, Turkey (AP) 鈥 The Turkish parliament鈥檚 foreign affairs committee gave its consent to Sweden鈥檚 bid to join NATO on Tuesday, drawing the previously nonaligned Nordic country closer to membership in the Western military alliance.
Sweden鈥檚 accession protocol will now need to be approved in the Turkish parliament's general assembly for the last stage of the legislative process in Turkey. No date has been set.
Turkey, a NATO member, has for more than a year, accusing the country of being too lenient toward groups that Ankara regards as threats to its security, including Kurdish militants and members of a network that Ankara blames for a failed coup in 2016.
The Turkish parliament鈥檚 foreign affairs committee had begun discussing Sweden鈥檚 membership in NATO last month. But the meeting after legislators from Erdogan鈥檚 ruling party submitted a motion for a postponement on grounds that some issues needed more clarification and that negotiations with Sweden hadn鈥檛 鈥渕atured鈥 enough.
On Tuesday, the committee resumed its deliberations and a large majority of legislators in the committee voted in favor of Sweden鈥檚 application to join.
Briefing the committee members before the vote, Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akcapar cited steps Sweden had taken steps to meet Turkish demands, including lifting restrictions on defense industry sales and amending anti-terrorism laws in ways that 鈥渘o one could have imaged five or six years ago.鈥
鈥淚t is unrealistic to expect that the Swedish authorities will immediately fulfill all of our demands. This is a process, and this process requires long-term and consistent effort,鈥 he said, adding that Turkey would continue to monitor Sweden鈥檚 progress.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstr枚m welcomed the committee's decision on a message posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
鈥淭he next step is for parliament to vote on the matter. We look forward to becoming a member of NATO,鈥 he tweeted.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed the development, saying that he counts on Turkey and Hungary "to now complete their ratifications as soon as possible. Sweden鈥檚 membership will make NATO stronger.鈥
Hungary has also , alleging that Swedish politicians have told 鈥渂latant lies鈥 about the condition of Hungary鈥檚 democracy. Hungary hasn't announced when the country鈥檚 ratification may occur.
Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had openly linked to the U.S. Congress鈥 approval of a Turkish request to purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets and kits to modernize Turkey鈥檚 existing fleet.
Erdogan also also called on Canada and other NATO allies to life arms embargoes imposed on Turkey.
The White House has backed the Turkish F-16 request but there is to military sales to Turkey.
Sweden and Finland abandoned their traditional to seek protection under NATO鈥檚 security umbrella, following Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland , becoming NATO鈥檚 31st member, after Turkey鈥檚 parliament ratified the Nordic country鈥檚 bid.
NATO requires the unanimous approval of all existing members to expand, and Turkey and Hungary are the only countries that have been holding out.
The delays have frustrated other NATO allies who were swift to accept Sweden and Finland into the alliance.
