Erdoğan Links Sweden's NATO Membership to U.S. F-16 Approval and Lifting of Arms Embargoes

Turkey and Hungary remain the only NATO members not to approve Sweden's bid, delaying the ratification amid heightened security concerns following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has linked the approval of Sweden's NATO membership to the U.S. Congress' approval of F-16 fighter jet sales to Turkey.
Erdoğan also demands that Canada and other NATO allies lift their arms embargoes against Turkey.
Turkey and Hungary are the only two NATO members that have not approved Sweden's bid to join the military alliance, delaying the ratification of its membership for over a year.
Sweden and neighboring Finland have been building closer relationships with Western allies after they abandoned long-standing military neutrality strategies in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. signed a defense deal with Sweden earlier this month, allowing American troops to have access to bases on Swedish territory.