Turkey Drops Resistance to Sweden's NATO Bid, Raising Questions About Concessions Secured
Turkey has dropped its resistance to Sweden's NATO membership bid, raising questions about the concessions Ankara may have secured in return.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with EU Council chief Charles Michel to explore ways to improve relations between Turkey and the EU.
Erdogan also met with US President Joe Biden to discuss enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area.
One of Turkey's key priorities is the modernization of its F-16 fleet, which it requested in October 2021 with a $6 billion deal to purchase 40 jets and modernization kits for 79 Turkish warplanes.
The White House is likely to support the sale of F-16s to Turkey, and the US National Security Advisor signaled that a decision could be reached within the next week.
Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez revealed that discussions between Turkey and the Biden administration regarding the potential sale of F-16s were ongoing.
Turkey will present the accession protocol for Sweden to the Turkish parliament, which will vote on its approval, but no specific timeline has been announced for Sweden's immediate membership.
Sweden recently amended its constitution, tightened its anti-terrorism laws, and resumed arms exports to Turkey.
The two countries also cooperated with Turkish security officials to track terrorist activities.
This is a typical example of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership, as the process is more important to him than the result.
Erdogan aims to show that Turkey is an indispensable part of the Western system, but also to send the message that Turkey is not surrendering to the West.
Erdogan's efforts to end defense boycotts by new NATO members Finland and Sweden may enhance cohesion within the alliance, but Turkey is likely to maintain its own working relationship with Russia.
Erdogan's victory in the presidential elections in May could generate significant political and economic optimism and reinforce his position amid the ongoing depreciation of the Turkish lira.
However, Levin doesn't think that Turkey can leverage Swedish NATO accession to force the EU to open up accession negotiations or to push the Customs Union modernization and visa liberalization.
Erdogan also met with US President Joe Biden to discuss enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area.
One of Turkey's key priorities is the modernization of its F-16 fleet, which it requested in October 2021 with a $6 billion deal to purchase 40 jets and modernization kits for 79 Turkish warplanes.
The White House is likely to support the sale of F-16s to Turkey, and the US National Security Advisor signaled that a decision could be reached within the next week.
Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez revealed that discussions between Turkey and the Biden administration regarding the potential sale of F-16s were ongoing.
Turkey will present the accession protocol for Sweden to the Turkish parliament, which will vote on its approval, but no specific timeline has been announced for Sweden's immediate membership.
Sweden recently amended its constitution, tightened its anti-terrorism laws, and resumed arms exports to Turkey.
The two countries also cooperated with Turkish security officials to track terrorist activities.
This is a typical example of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership, as the process is more important to him than the result.
Erdogan aims to show that Turkey is an indispensable part of the Western system, but also to send the message that Turkey is not surrendering to the West.
Erdogan's efforts to end defense boycotts by new NATO members Finland and Sweden may enhance cohesion within the alliance, but Turkey is likely to maintain its own working relationship with Russia.
Erdogan's victory in the presidential elections in May could generate significant political and economic optimism and reinforce his position amid the ongoing depreciation of the Turkish lira.
However, Levin doesn't think that Turkey can leverage Swedish NATO accession to force the EU to open up accession negotiations or to push the Customs Union modernization and visa liberalization.
