Turkey panel nod takes Sweden closer to NATO Membership

Subject :IR

Section: Grouping

Context: Turkey panel nod takes Sweden closer to NATO Membership

More about the news;

The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission has approved Sweden’s NATO membership application after a 19-month delay due to security concessions demanded by Turkey.
The panel, controlled by President Erdogan’s ruling party, supported Sweden’s petition in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The next step involves a vote by the entire parliament, expected to pass as the ruling party and its allies control it.
If approved, the bill will be sent to Erdogan for signing, concluding a nearly two-year process.
However, Commission Chairman Fuat Oktay downplayed expectations for a quick vote, stating that the speaker will decide the timing.
Despite Turkey confirming Finland’s petition in April, it held Sweden hostage until further action against local PKK members.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom welcomed the decision, while Turkey remains a potential obstacle to Sweden’s NATO membership.

What is the NATO membership — Process

NATO has what it calls an “open door policy” on new members — any European country can request to join, so long as they meet certain criteria and all existing members agree.
A country does not technically “apply” to join;
Article 10 of its founding treaty states that, once a nation has expressed interest, the existing member states “may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other European State in a position to further the principles of this Treaty … to accede.”
Ratification of new members could take a year, as the legislatures of all 30 current members must approve new applicants.
Requirements for membership, which include
- having a functioning democratic political system based on a market economy;
- treating minority populations fairly;
- committing to resolve conflicts peacefully;
- the ability and willingness to make a military contribution to NATO operations;
- Committing to democratic civil-military relations and institutions.

What does NATO membership entail?

The reason most countries join NATO is because of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which stipulates that all signatories consider an attack on one an attack against all.
Article 5 guarantees that the resources of the whole alliance — including the massive US military — can be used to protect any single member nation, such as smaller countries who would be defenseless without their allies. Iceland, for example, has no standing army.