Turkey Assures Sweden of NATO Membership Ratification Within Weeks

The move follows Sweden's introduction of an anti-terrorism bill and lifting of arms export restrictions on Turkey, addressing Ankara's concerns.

Turkey has assured Sweden that it will ratify its long-delayed accession to NATO within weeks, according to Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom.
Sweden's NATO membership has been held up by Turkey and Hungary, with Turkey demanding that Sweden take more steps to rein in local members of the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States.
In response, Sweden introduced an anti-terrorism bill that makes membership of a terrorist organization illegal, while also lifting arms export restrictions on Turkey.
Sweden and Finland requested to join NATO last year following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but Turkey raised objections over what it said was the two countries' protection of groups that Ankara deems terrorists.
Despite the delays, NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has expressed a desire for Sweden's approval to be finalized as soon as possible, stating that it will be beneficial for Sweden, NATO, and all NATO allies.