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Turkey formally ratifies Sweden's NATO membership, leaving Hungary as only ally yet to endorse it
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Turkish lawmakers from Toplumsal Ozgurluk or Social Freedom party, foreground left, and Sosyalist Dayanisma Platformu or Socialist Solidarity Platform hold posters that read in Turkish: "No occupation, no war for Nato!" during the debate of Sweden's bid to join NATO at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. Turkish legislators on Tuesday endorsed Sweden's membership in NATO, lifting a major hurdle on the previously nonaligned country's entry into the military alliance. - photo by AP Photo/Ali Unal
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey finalized the ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO on Thursday, bringing the previously nonaligned Nordic country a step closer to joining the military alliance. Hungary now remains the only NATO ally not to have ratified Sweden’s accession. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson welcomed Turkey's move, saying on X, formerly known as Twitter: “With this, a key milestone has been reached in Sweden’s path towards NATO membership.” Turkey’s parliament endorsed Sweden’s accession in a vote held Tuesday after more than a year-and-a-half of delays that frustrated other allies who argued Sweden's entry would strengthen NATO.