#Turkey agrees to advance Sweden’s NATO membership, Stoltenberg says

Turkey on Monday agreed to move forward on allowing Sweden into NATO after delaying Stockholm’s accession to the defensive alliance for more than a year.

The breakthrough was announced by NATO Secretary-General Jans Stoltenberg, who said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed to forward Sweden’s accession protocol for ratification in the Turkish parliament.

“This is a historic step which makes all NATO allies stronger and safer,” Stoltenberg tweeted. 

The question of Sweden’s membership was among the biggest issues expected at this week’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The 31-member alliance is seeking to project unity and solidarity as one of Ukraine’s most important supporters as it pushes back Russia 16 months into the war.

The details surrounding the agreement between Erdoğan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson were not immediately available.

The Turkish president had held back on moving forward with Sweden’s accession to NATO as late as Monday morning, saying that Turkey would not move forward on admitting Stockholm to the alliance until assurances were made to admit Ankara to the European Union.

The U.S. had pushed back on linking Turkey’s efforts to join the EU with Sweden’s admittance to the alliance. President Biden and his top officials had engaged in intensive lobbying with Erdogan and Turkish officials in the lead up to the Vilnius Summit, which will run from July 11 and 12.

Biden welcomed the agreement on Monday, saying that he stands “ready to work with President Erdoğan and Türkiye on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area,” using the formal name for Turkey.

“I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally.  And I thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership.” 

President Biden touched down in Lithuania’s capital on Monday for the two-day summit.

Updated: 4:09 p.m.