Turkey postpones vote on Sweden's NATO accession

(Patria) - The Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee postponed today's vote on Sweden's candidacy for NATO membership, further delaying the decision on the military alliance's expansion, after 18 months of waiting, Reuters reports.

Chairman Fuat Oktay said the committee, controlled by President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, would continue discussions and that a law supporting Sweden's candidacy could be on the agenda next week, but he did not set a date.

"For all our MPs to approve Sweden's membership in NATO, they must be completely convinced. We will discuss all of this at our next committee meeting on this issue," Oktay said after hours of debate.

The committee can make decisions by a simple majority. It can invite the Swedish ambassador to brief MPs if necessary and if parliamentary regulations allow, Oktay added.

Sweden and Finland applied to join the North Atlantic Alliance in May last year, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Erdogan at the time raised objections to both requests, believing that the Nordic countries protect individuals whom Turkey considers terrorists.

Turkey supported Finland's candidacy in April, but maintained reservations about Sweden.

Although Hungary has also not ratified Sweden's candidacy, Turkey is considered the main obstacle to Sweden's entry into NATO.