Swedish PM to visit Turkey on Sweden’s NATO ratification

Sweden’s new prime minister Ulf Kristersson is expected to meet Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan today to discuss ratification of Sweden’s application to join NATO.

Sweden and Finland have both been working to secure support for NATO membership — a significant change to the military alliance’s structure follows Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Turkish and Hungarian governments are the biggest obstacle to their NATO ascension. Turkey specifically cited Sweden’s history of sheltering members of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party  as well as followers of the U.S.-based religious figure Fethullah Gulen, both of which are considered threats to Turkish national security.

The conflict in Ukraine has increased Erdogan’s diplomatic clout, as evidenced by the Turkish-brokered deal to secure the transfer of Black Sea grain. Erdogan is likely using this elevated position, as well as his NATO veto, to extract concessions from the Nordic nations in order to advance nationalist domestic goals.

Expect the Turkish government  ultimately to allow Sweden and Finland’s NATO accession following lengthy, public requests for the two governments to take harder line stances against the Kurdish and Gulenist groups. The Ukrainian conflict also means that Putin is no longer well placed to coerce the Turkish government into blocking the Nordic nations’ NATO membership.