Agency REPORT
Published, Wednesday, October 25, 2023
In a surprising diplomatic move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has signed the Participation Protocol for Sweden's integration into NATO, handing it over to the Turkish Grand National Assembly for review. This announcement, which was posted on the Communication Presidency's social media account, has rekindled discussions on the shifting alliances within NATO and the EU.
Turkey's Strategic Hold
Erdoğan's decision to ratify the protocol comes after a period of deliberate delay, during which he accused Stockholm of leniency towards Kurdish militants and other groups that Turkey perceives as security threats. With Erdoğan's signature, Turkey joins 29 other NATO allies who have already ratified the protocol. Only Hungary remains on the list of nations yet to endorse Sweden's admission.
The implications of this decision are manifold. Notably, Turkey's hold-out status in ratifying Sweden's NATO membership has been perceived as a strategic maneuver. It's an assertion of influence within the organization, demonstrating Turkey's ability to impede or facilitate the alliance's expansion.
Sweden's NATO Ambitions
Sweden, traditionally neutral, has been edging closer to NATO over the past years, driven by concerns about Russia's assertiveness in the Baltic region. Though not a NATO member, Sweden has been a cooperative partner of the alliance since 1994. Its participation in NATO-led operations and exercises and its dialogue with the alliance under the Partnership for Peace program has given it an enhanced partner status.
However, Sweden's admission into NATO hinges on unanimous agreement among the existing 30 members. Since all NATO decisions are made by consensus, each ally has an effective veto over every decision. The protocol's ratification by Turkey marks a significant step forward for Sweden's NATO aspirations.
A Promise of Revived EU Ambitions
Erdoğan's decision to forward the protocol to the parliament comes in the wake of assurances from Sweden to support Turkey in reviving its stalled EU membership bid. Turkey has been a candidate for EU membership since 1987, but its accession talks, which started in 2005, have been at a standstill due to concerns over Ankara's human rights record and the Cyprus issue.
The move signals a possible thaw in relations between Turkey and the EU, with Sweden acting as a go-between. In this geopolitical chess game, the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership protocol by Turkey could be a deft move to gain leverage in its EU ambitions.
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