Turkish Parliamentary Committee Punts Decision On Sweden's NATO Membership

The Associated Press has reported that the Turkish Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee has indefinitely adjourned debate on Sweden's NATO membership without reaching a decision.

• According to AP, "it was not immediately known when the committee would resume its discussions on Sweden's accession protocol or when it would reach Parliament's general assembly for the last stage of the legislative process."
• Reuters reports: "[Committee] Chairman Fuat Oktay said the commission, which is controlled by President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, will hold further talks and may bring the bill back on its agenda next week - but he did not set a clear timeline."
• Turkey's slow-walking of Sweden's membership, originally tied to Stockholm's perceived lack of movement in addressing Turkish security concerns, is now believed more closely linked with the US greenlighting defence contracts and offering Erdogan a White House visit.
• Erdogan said on November 5: “I believe that from here onward Biden will host us. It would not behoove me to call him. We are positioned as a key country in the Middle East, in the Eastern Mediterranean and in our region, and it’s not just us who are saying this.”
• Notably, the apparent U-turn comes as the war between Israel and Hamas continues to drive a wedge between Turkey and NATO allies. Erdogan said in parliament yesterday: "I am now saying, with my heart at ease, that Israel is a terror state." It is possible Erdogan may choose to use Sweden's NATO bid as leverage to influence US policy on Israel.