On December 26, the Turkish Parliament continued to discuss approving Sweden's request to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
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| Sweden wants to join NATO: Nordic allies support, NATO throws out 'delicious bait', US predicts the time is ripe. (Source: Reuter) |
The thorny issue has become more complicated after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked it to Ankara's proposal to buy F-16 fighter jets from its US ally.
Specifically, on December 19, President Erdogan affirmed that the F-16 aircraft agreement between the US and this country will affect Ankara's consideration of Sweden's NATO membership letter.
Earlier in November, the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee failed to reach an agreement on a text to hold a full vote and announced a re-convening on the afternoon of December 26.
"We see that there is a change in policy in Sweden. We see some decisions made in court, although very few. We have some proposals for further steps," Fuat Oktay, a member of the ruling AKP party and head of the Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee, said in a television interview on December 25.
After the committee approves the agreement on the voting text, there will be a vote in the entire Turkish parliament on admitting Sweden, where President Erdogan's ruling coalition holds a majority of seats.
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