China News Service, Beijing, December 27 Ankara news: On the 26th local time, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly passed a bill on Sweden's accession to NATO.
According to Turkey's Anadolu News Agency, on the same day, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly discussed a bill on the protocol on Sweden's accession to NATO. Turkish Deputy Minister Burak Akkapal gave a briefing on the situation. In the end, the Foreign Affairs Committee voted to approve the bill. The bill will then be tabled in Parliament for discussion and a vote, but the exact date has not yet been determined.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Bilström posted on social media ** welcoming the passage of the bill. He added: "The next step will be a vote in parliament on this." We look forward to becoming a member of NATO. ”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed this and urged Turkey and Hungary to complete the ratification process as soon as possible, saying Sweden's accession "will make NATO stronger," according to the Associated Press.
In October this year, Turkey** Erdogan signed the protocol on Sweden's accession to NATO and submitted it to the Turkish parliament. However, the relevant deliberations have since been postponed.
Sweden and Finland applied to NATO at the same time in May 2022. According to the protocol, all NATO members must unanimously agree to admit new members. Finland was officially allowed to join NATO in April this year, but Sweden's accession protocol has not yet been ratified by Turkey and Hungary. (ENDS).