(MENAFN) The Swedish parliament has passed a bill that allows the country to become a member of NATO. The foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, called it a "historical decision" and said that Sweden will be safer and more secure as a result. The bill passed with a vote of 269 - 37.
Sweden's move towards NATO membership has been met with mixed reactions. While some see it as a necessary step to ensure the country's defense, others worry that it could lead to increased tensions with Russia.
In June of last year, Sweden signed a memorandum with Finland and Türkiye to address Ankara's security concerns. Since then, officials from the three countries have held meetings to discuss the implementation of the trilateral agreement.
In November, Sweden passed an anti-terror law in the hopes of gaining Ankara's approval for its bid to join NATO. The law will take effect on June 1 and will allow authorities to prosecute those who support terror organizations.
Türkiye recently announced that it would approve the process for Finland's NATO membership protocol in its parliament. It remains to be seen how Sweden's move towards NATO membership will affect its relationship with Türkiye and other countries in the region.
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