Turkey backs Sweden’s NATO bid

• Context (IE): Sweden’s demand to join NATO was supported by Turkey’s parliament.
• Sweden and Finland applied for membership in 2022. While Finland became the 31st member, Sweden was opposed by Turkey and Hungary.
• Sweden is an official Invitee and attends NATO meetings.

Sweden: From Neutral to NATO

• Sweden had been neutral during the World Wars and the Cold War.
• Earlier, it joined European Union but avoided joining NATO to avoid tension with its neighbour Russia.
• After the Russia-Ukraine crisis, it abandoned neutrality with public opinion in favour of joining NATO.

Oppositions to Sweden’s bid

Turkey’s opposition

• Soft stand of Sweden against Kurdish militant outfit the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the group behind the 2016 Turkey failed coup.
• Quran-burning protests were allowed by the Swedish government under freedom of speech.

Hungary’ opposition

• It objected to Sweden’s negative remarks about the rule of law and the state of democracy under the current government.

Changed dynamics

• Sweden had tightened its anti-terrorism laws and cracked down on the PKK’s activities.
• It lifted restrictions on arms sales to Turkey.
• Sweden has committed to support Turkey’s EU membership bid.
• The US agreement to sell 40 F-16 fighter jets to Turkey has also changed the dynamics.
• After Turkey’s move, Hungary also has softened the stance.

Importance of Sweden for NATO

• Encirclement of the Baltic Sea (except the area under Russia) will give NATO a strategic edge.
• The Swedish military is modern and experienced in past NATO missions.

Russia’s reaction

• Russia has reacted negatively to Sweden and Finland’s decision to abandon nonalignment and seek NATO membership.
• It has warned them of unspecified countermeasures.

NATO membership

• Open door policy (Article 10): All European countries are eligible to join NATO.
• Since 1949, NATO’s membership has increased from 12 to 31 countries through nine rounds of enlargement.
• Finland became the latest country to join the Alliance in 2023.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Sweden and Ukraine have declared their aspirations to join NATO.

Process of joining NATO

• Accession talks: To obtain formal confirmation from the invitees.
• Letters of intent: They are sent to NATO along with the timeline of reforms.
• Accession protocols are signed and ratified by NATO countries with the consensus of all members.
• Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty.
• Submission of instruments of accession to the US State Department makes invitees NATO members.