Sweden is one step closer to membership of Nato after yes vote in Turkish parliament

Turkey’s decision to back Sweden’s application to join Nato is a significant step on the Nordic country’s lengthy path to membership.

However, the country will still have to receive backing from Hungary and its farright government led by Viktor Orban. The move will also anger Russia, which warned when the idea was first mooted that it would “take retaliatory steps”. Sweden applied to join Nato alongside its neighbour, Finland, 18 months ago. However, it faced a block from Turkey, over claims of Swedish support to Kurdish separatists.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, inset, has since been somewhat pacified after, in June, Sweden introduced tougher anti-terror laws, which make it illegal to finance or help terror groups.

Finland, which faced little opposition to its application, joined the alliance in April last year. Its president, Sauli Niinistö, congratulated Sweden, saying the move would improve security in the Baltics.

“I am very glad of the Turkish parliament’s vote to ratify Sweden’s Nato membership,” he said. “Sweden’s membership will improve security in the Baltic region and make the whole alliance stronger. When Sweden is a member, Finland’s

membership will also be completed.”

On Tuesday, after a fourhour debate, 287 of 346 MPS voted in favour, 35 against and the remainder abstained. The president is now expected to sign the Bill into law.

Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson also welcomed the vote. He said: “Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of Nato. Positive that the Grand General Assembly of Türkiye has voted in favour of Sweden’s Nato accession.”

Hungary, however, could be a tougher sell. Unlike Turkey, it does not have specific demands – instead, it is more personal.

In March, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács accused Swedish officials of sitting on a “crumbling throne of moral superiority”, in a row concerning Hungary’s democratic principles and its ability to meet standards set by the European Union. The eastern European nation has rolled back on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights in recent times.