In response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, traditionally non-aligned Sweden and its neighbor Finland applied for NATO membership in May last year. Finland joined the military alliance in April, Sweden is still waiting for the approval of member states Turkey and Hungary.
Ankara has been delaying Sweden’s accession to NATO for months. At the NATO summit in July, Erdogan gave his word that Sweden could join, but the Turkish parliament has still not ratified the request.
NATO partner Turkey needs the F-16 fighter jets demanded by Erdogan to modernize its air force. The US government has shown itself open to a sale worth $20 billion. However, several members of the US Congress expressed concern about the human rights situation in Turkey and tensions with NATO partner Greece.
Further potential for conflict between Washington and Ankara lies in US support for Israel in its war against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Kurdish groups in Syria. The USA has supported the Kurdish militia YPG in its fight against the jihadist militia IS – Turkey, however, sees it as a partner organization of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it persecutes.
