Turkey's parliament

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was on Wednesday quoted as saying that he expected steps from the US Congress on the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara after submitting a bill to ratify Sweden's NATO membership to Turkey's parliament.

Sweden on Tuesday welcomed a decision by the foreign affairs commission of Turkey's parliament to debate on Thursday a bill approving NATO membership for Stockholm.

"That is welcome information," Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in a text to Reuters. Sweden looks forward to being a member of NATO." [Reuters]

Turkey's parliament has removed Coca Cola and Nestle products from its restaurants over their alleged support for Israel amid the conflict in Gaza, according to a parliament statement and a source who named the two companies.

The two companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The speaker of Turkey's parliament will send a bill approving Sweden's NATO membership bid to parliament's foreign affairs commission on Wednesday, a source from the assembly has said.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said it is gratifying that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has submitted a bill approving the Nordic country's NATO membership bid to Turkey's parliament for ratification.

Sweden applied last year to join the defense alliance but Turkey and Hungary have yet to approve the bid.

Turkey will act to ratify Sweden's NATO membership bid in conjunction with cooperation from Stockholm in the fight against terrorism, President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted on Friday as saying.

NATO opened its summit Tuesday with fresh momentum after Turkey withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance, a step toward the unity that Western leaders have been eager to demonstrate in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in an unexpected move, said on Monday the European Union should open the way for Ankara's accession to the bloc before Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance.

Turkey's bid to join the EU has been frozen for years after membership talks were launched in 2005 under Erdogan's first term as prime minister.

Members of Turkey's parliament meet at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, TBMM, in Ankara, 2 January 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/STR

The 600-seat parliament will have 16 political parties thanks to the political alliance system that was introduced by the executive presidential system in 2018.

Turkey's parliament on Thursday ratified Finland's application to join NATO, lifting the last hurdle in the way of the Nordic country's long-delayed accession into the Western military alliance.

All 276 lawmakers present voted in favor of Finland's bid, days after Hungary's parliament also endorsed Helsinki's accession.