Turkey’s parliament is set to hold a debate this week over Sweden’s bid to join the NATO military alliance, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to improve defense relations with US-led allies.
The foreign affairs committee will discuss the matter on Thursday according to a notice on parliament’s website. The debate will bring Sweden a step closer to becoming a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after almost a year and a half of delay. Turkey’s nod would still require an approval from the entire assembly, where Erdogan’s ruling AK Party and its allies hold a majority of seats and the president has indicated he is now in favor.