After a debate lasting several hours, Turkey’s parliament finally said yes to Swedish NATO entry.
Now only President Erdogan’s signature remains before Turkey ratifies Sweden’s application.
Sweden’s former ambassador to Turkey Michael Sahlin, also active at the research institute Sipri, is a little surprised that the process went so quickly in the end.
– It is somehow strange that such a long process has come to an end, without anyone really understanding this sudden urgency. The question is what has happened.
Possible invitation to the White House
President Erdogan has previously been clear that Turkey will say yes to Sweden if the US sells fighter aircraft to Turkey of the F-16 model. But the US Congress has not been able to agree, as several members believe that Turkey’s lack of human rights makes the deal impossible.
It is unclear whether Erdogan has received any other guarantees from the US.
– For example, there has been talk for a long time about Erdogan wanting to receive a formal invitation to the White House, and Biden can arrange that without Congress, says Michael Sahlin.
“Sweden may have done something”
He believes that the international pressure on Erdogan has finally become too great.
– For slightly different reasons, he has been forced to go this way, even though he does not have the guarantees he had hoped for.
Michael Sahlin also does not rule out that Sweden may have taken further steps in the process.
– Now the tone has suddenly changed in Turkey. It could be that Sweden has done something that is not generally known.
Possible delays
He believes that the process going forward will go quickly, and that Erdogan can sign the documents as early as Wednesday – on the condition that the president has not made promises to Hungary, the other country that has not ratified Sweden’s application.
– If Erdogan has promised Orban (Hungary’s Prime Minister, ed. note) that Hungary will be allowed to ratify first, that is a possible reason for a certain delay.
Another reason could be that Erdogan wants to invite Ulf Kristersson to Turkey for a ceremony.
– It could be that Erdogan is keen for Kristersson to come down to Ankara and that Erdogan signs the documents with pomp and show only then.