Sweden's accession to Nato: Erdogan makes ratification dependent on US fighter jets
In response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the traditionally non-aligned Sweden applied for NATO membership together with its neighbor Finland in May of last year. Finland joined the military alliance in April, while Sweden is still waiting for the approval of member states Turkey and Hungary.
Ankara has been delaying Sweden's accession to Nato for months. Erdogan gave his word at the Nato summit in July that Sweden could join, but the Turkish parliament has still not ratified the application.
NATO partner Turkey needs the F-16 fighter jets demanded by Erdogan to modernize its air force. The US government has shown itself to be open to a sale worth 20 billion dollars. However, several members of the US Congress have expressed concern about the human rights situation in Turkey and tensions with NATO partner Greece.
Further potential for conflict between Washington and Ankara lies in the US support for Israel in its war against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Kurdish groups in Syria. The USA has supported the Kurdish militia YPG in its fight against the jihadist militia IS - Turkey, on the other hand, regards it as a partner organization of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it persecutes.
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- Despite Turkey and Hungary's current delay in approving Sweden's NATO membership application, Sweden, along with Finland, applied for NATO accession last May in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
- Finnish ratification occurred in April, but Sweden is still waiting for Turkey and Hungary to give their authorization for entry into the alliance, which has stalled Sweden's accession process for several months.
- The Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has not yet ratified Sweden's application, citing the need for USD 20 billion worth of F-16 fighter jets to modernize its air force as a condition for approval.
- While the US government has expressed support for the sale of these fighter jets to Turkey, there have been concerns raised by several members of the US Congress regarding human rights issues in Turkey and tensions with NATO ally Greece.
- The situation between Turkey and the NATO member states is further complicated by US support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza and Kurdish groups in Syria.
- Ankara views these Kurdish militias, such as the YPG, as allies of the PKK, a group Turkey persecutes due to its association with the Kurdistan Workers' Party.
- The delay in Sweden's NATO accession has dependent NATO partner Sweden on the US for providing fighter jets, making their relationship an important factor in the overall process.
- Hungary's position on Sweden's accession remains unclear, with it also yet to give its approval for Sweden's membership application.
- As tensions persist between Turkey and many NATO members, the future of Sweden's accession to the alliance remains uncertain, with both political and military factors playing a role in the decision-making process.
Source: www.stern.de
