Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s President, stated that his country’s Parliament will not accept Sweden’s NATO Membership until at least October
Erdogan told reporters in Vilnius following the NATO summit that Turkey’s Parliament will be in recess for two months and that “there are many [other] legislative proposals to discuss.”
Earlier this week, Turkey decided to allow Sweden to join the military alliance.
It opposed for months, arguing that Sweden harbours members of militant groups considered terrorists by Ankara.
To join NATO, a country’s candidature must be approved by all member countries.
Hungary has similarly delayed acceptance of Sweden’s candidature until the autumn.
After Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Sweden, like Finland, abandoned its long-standing policy of military neutrality.
In April, Finland became an official NATO member.
The world’s largest military organisation has 31 member countries, three of which are from the Western Balkans: Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.