Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in May 2022. While Finland became the 31st member of NATO in April 2023, Sweden’s accession has not yet come to fruition. The Turkish government has opposed Sweden’s bid, citing concerns about Stockholm being too lenient with terrorist organizations, particularly the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Ankara additionally requested that the U.S. sells it F-16 fighter jets but the $20 billion package requires congressional approval. The White House has explicitly linked the issue of Sweden’s NATO accession to Türkiye’s desire to overhaul its F-16 fleet. Sweden’s accession to NATO will be discussed at the alliance’s upcoming annual summit, held in Lithuania on July 11-12. Hoping to sway Ankara to reverse its opposition to Swedish accession, Sweden passed a new anti-terror legislation effective as of June 1, which makes it illegal to participate, finance, recruit for and publicly encourage a terrorist organization. Sweden’s foreign minister, Tobias Billström, argued that the new law should pave the way to overcome Türkiye’s veto. Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, played down Sweden’s expectations in a statement on June 14, commenting that the country has not yet won Ankara’s support to be able to expect a breakthrough before the July summit. 

This question will resolve positively if AP or Reuters reports that the Turkish government has officially lifted its objection to Sweden’s accession to NATO on or before July 31, 2023. 

Turkey’s Erdogan says Sweden shouldn’t expect to join NATO any time soon

Participation in a terrorist organisation to be a punishable offence

Swedes tighten terror laws, likely to help NATO membership