In a significant development at the NATO Summit held in Vilnius, the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, warmly welcomed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's announcement to present the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly for prompt ratification.

The Secretary General emphasized that President Erdogan has pledged to work closely with the Assembly to ensure a smooth process.

During a meeting between Secretary General Stoltenberg, President Erdogan, and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, it was highlighted that the memorandum, which was concluded a year ago at the Madrid summit, has been highly successful. Stoltenberg noted that the agreement has yielded positive outcomes in the fight against terrorism, bolstering security for Türkiye, and strengthening the NATO alliance.

The close collaboration between Sweden and Türkiye since the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid has been pivotal in addressing Türkiye's legitimate security concerns. As part of this collaborative effort, Sweden has made constitutional amendments, revised its laws, significantly expanded counter-terrorism cooperation against the PKK, and resumed arms exports to Türkiye.

Secretary General Stoltenberg expressed satisfaction that the fight against terrorism will continue beyond Sweden's accession, announcing the establishment of the post of Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism at NATO.

Describing Sweden's accession to NATO as a historic step, Secretary General Stoltenberg emphasized its significance in enhancing the security of all NATO Allies, particularly during this critical period. He stated: "Completing Sweden's accession to NATO is an historic step that benefits the security of all NATO Allies at this critical time. It makes us all stronger and safer."

Earlier on the same day, President Erdogan confirmed his support for Sweden's bid to join NATO after initially raising security concerns that led to a one-year delay. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg subsequently announced President Erdogan's agreement to forward Sweden's membership bid to Turkey's parliament.

Following the trilateral talks between President Erdogan, Prime Minister Kristersson, and Secretary General Stoltenberg, a joint statement was issued. The statement emphasized that Türkiye and Sweden would intensify their collaboration in counter-terrorism coordination and enhance their trade ties. Both countries have committed to continuing their cooperation under the Trilateral Permanent Joint Mechanism established during the Madrid NATO Summit in 2022.

Furthermore, a new bilateral Security Compact will be established, featuring annual ministerial-level meetings and the creation of working groups as necessary. Sweden will present a roadmap outlining its continued efforts to combat terrorism comprehensively, in alignment with the Trilateral Memorandum, including Article 4. Additionally, Sweden reiterated its stance against providing support to the YPG/PYD and the organization referred to as FETÖ in Türkiye.

The joint statement also emphasized the commitment to strengthen economic cooperation through the Türkiye-Sweden Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO). Both countries expressed their intent to maximize bilateral trade and investments. Furthermore, Sweden pledged active support to revive Türkiye's EU accession process, including the modernization of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union and visa liberalization.

The United States President, Joe Biden, commended President Erdogan's commitment to Sweden's NATO bid, expressing his readiness to collaborate with Türkiye on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic region. The White House issued a statement stating: "I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally. And I thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership."

The decision to advance Sweden's accession protocols to the Turkish parliament signifies a significant milestone for both countries and reinforces the collective security and cooperation within NATO. (ILKHA)