Turkey moves forward with Sweden’s NATO Membership

Turkey has announced that its Parliament will start processing Sweden’s NATO membership application on Thursday in its Foreign Affairs Committee.

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.