The Washington Post reports that one the eve of the NATO summit, Turkey has agreed to allow Sweden to join NATO. It says:
Turkey has agreed to admit Sweden to NATO, the alliance’s secretary general said Monday, dropping months of opposition that had roiled Western governments trying to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“President Erdogan has agreed to forward the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, referring to Turkey’s parliament, in surprise remarks late Monday after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Provocative remarks from Erdogan in the run-up to this year’s summit left officials and analysts wondering whether Sweden’s bid was doomed, or if Erdogan was simply negotiating. Turkey’s main focus, analysts said, was the completion of a $20 billion deal for American F-16 fighter jets, an agreement that is backed by the Biden administration but that faces opposition on Capitol Hill.