Sweden is in final stretch for NATO membership

After a long wait and uncertainty, Sweden is finally going to join NATO, the world's largest military alliance. The country applied for NATO membership more than a year ago. But Sweden's membership was stalled due to objections from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

But on Monday (July 10), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a tweet that Erdogan had withdrawn his objections and said he would support Sweden's membership. And to give the final approval of the country's membership, the relevant law will be sent to the Turkish Parliament as soon as possible. Stoltenberg called the event "historic".

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg held a meeting with Turkish President Erdoğan and Swedish Prime Minister Wolf Kristerson on Monday in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Erdoğan then agreed to change his mind. They are in Lithuania to attend NATO's annual summit.

Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO on May 17 last year after Russia attacked Ukraine. After a long wait, Turkey finally approved Finland's membership on March 31, 2023.

But the country blocked Sweden's request. Turkey has alleged that Sweden supports and supports the Kurdish militant and terrorist group PKK. For this reason, Turkey adds conditions, Sweden must stop supporting these terrorists; After that they will get NATO membership.

Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, Turkish President Erdoğan suddenly made a condition, if Turkey's EU membership process is restarted; Then he will send a bill to parliament to approve Sweden's NATO membership. It was later revealed that he had agreed to join Sweden in NATO. However, it could not be confirmed whether the West accepted his condition.

"I am happy to announce... President Erdogan has agreed to send Sweden's membership application to parliament and approve it as soon as possible," Nato Secretary General told a press conference on Erdogan's agreement.

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