Turkey Supports Sweden's NATO Membership... Gains Diplomatic Benefits

Joint Statement After Bilateral Summit
Gains from F-16 Purchase and Tariff Alliance Realized

T?rkiye (Turkey) has shifted its stance on Sweden's NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) membership, which it had opposed until now. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, who is on a European tour coinciding with the NATO summit. It is widely regarded that T?rkiye has gained significant diplomatic benefits in exchange for supporting Sweden's NATO membership.

On the 10th in Vilnius, Lithuania, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left), President of Turkey, Ulf Kristersson (right), Prime Minister of Sweden, and Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, participated in a press conference following the Turkey-Sweden summit. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 10th (local time), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a press conference and stated, "I am pleased to announce that we have agreed to advance the ratification of Sweden's membership application in the (T?rkiye) parliament as soon as possible. Today is a historic day."

On the same day, President Erdo?an met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to discuss the handling of Sweden's NATO ratification bill. The joint statement released after the meeting included a commitment to "closely consult with the parliament to ensure the ratification bill passes in T?rkiye."

Previously, Sweden, along with Finland, sought NATO membership following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. However, T?rkiye delayed the ratification process, preventing their accession to the alliance. T?rkiye opposed Sweden's membership on the grounds that Sweden was lenient toward the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which T?rkiye designates as a terrorist organization, and tolerated anti-Islamic protests.

Moreover, ahead of the meeting, concerns arose that the ratification might be derailed when T?rkiye suddenly set the resumption of its EU accession talks as a precondition for processing Sweden's NATO ratification bill.

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg explained, "Sweden, as an EU member state, has agreed to actively support the reactivation of T?rkiye's accession process, assist in reforming the EU-T?rkiye Customs Union, and facilitate 'visa liberalization' (de facto visa exemption)." The two countries also agreed to sign a new bilateral security agreement to combat terrorism. The main focus of the negotiations is expected to be T?rkiye's long-standing demand for a strong response to the PKK.

The United States, which had supported Sweden's NATO membership, announced that it is arranging a bilateral meeting with President Erdo?an following the sudden agreement. The White House confirmed on the 11th that President Joe Biden and President Erdo?an will hold a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where the NATO summit is taking place. President Biden welcomed T?rkiye's decision, stating in a separate comment, "I am ready to work with President Erdo?an and T?rkiye to strengthen European and Atlantic defense."

President Biden had been exerting strong pressure on T?rkiye, which was blocking Sweden's NATO membership, while also offering incentives such as supporting the sale of F-16 fighter jets, a long-standing priority for T?rkiye.

Some analysts evaluate that T?rkiye has gained substantial diplomatic benefits in exchange for granting Sweden NATO membership rights. Both the purchase of F-16 fighter jets and a tough stance on the PKK are closely related to T?rkiye's core interests.