Czech foreign minister welcomes Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s bid to join NATO

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has welcomed Turkey's decision to approve Sweden's bid to join NATO, ending months of delays and leaving only Hungary standing in the way of Sweden’s membership in the military alliance. “I welcome President Erdogan's decision to open NATO’s doors to another ally and I believe we will soon be able to convince the last remaining NATO partner that a stronger alliance is in everyone's interest," Mr. Lipavský said.

Turkey's general assembly, where President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling alliance holds a majority, voted 287-55 to approve the application that Sweden first made in 2022 to bolster its security in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the decision adding "I now count on Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible."