Turkey gives green light to Sweden's NATO membership

During the Turkey, Sweden and NATO meeting, it was reported that Sweden would actively support Turkey's EU membership process, including the updating of the Customs Union and visa liberalization. US President Joe Biden announced that Turkey welcomed Sweden's decision to refer NATO accession protocols to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Turkey gave the green light to Sweden's NATO membership. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement ahead of the NATO summit to be held in Vilnius that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has agreed to forward Sweden's offer to join NATO to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Stoltenberg said in his statement at the press conference, "I am pleased to announce that President Erdoğan has agreed to forward Sweden's accession protocol to the Turkish Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and to work closely with the Assembly to ensure its approval. This is a clear commitment. Erdoğan said it would happen as soon as possible." NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg announced that a bilateral security mechanism would be established between Turkey and Sweden. Stoltenberg announced that a Special Counter-Terrorism Coordinator would be appointed for the first time in NATO history. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also made a statement regarding the decision, saying, "This is a good day for Sweden. We will establish a new bilateral security dialogue (with Turkey) as a cooperation format." According to AA, it was reported that during the meeting between Turkey, Sweden and NATO, Sweden will actively support Turkey's EU membership process, including the updating of the Customs Union and visa liberalization. It was reported that during the trilateral meeting between Turkey, Sweden and NATO in Vilnius, Sweden reiterated that it will not support the terrorist organizations YPG/PYD and FETÖ. According to Bloomberg, Turkey gave the green light to support Sweden's NATO membership. According to a Turkish official who spoke to Bloomberg, Turkey received assurances regarding key demands, including Stockholm's approach to supporters of Kurdish terrorists operating on its territory. According to the report, after these assurances, it agreed to ask the Turkish Grand National Assembly to advance Sweden's NATO membership bid. The Turkish official also said progress was being made toward meeting their demands to lift defense-related sanctions and that EU officials had agreed to accelerate membership negotiations, including joining the Customs Union and providing visa-free travel for their citizens. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where he was attending the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit.