Turkish MPs approve new NATO expansion
RTJan 15
Turkish Parliament Approves Sweden’s NATO Bid
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The Facts
The Turkish Parliament approved Sweden's NATO membership bid on Tuesday by 287 to 55, with four abstentions, a decision that concludes the second step of Turkey's ratification process and brings the Nordic country closer to joining the military alliance.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have all publicly praised this outcome, which leaves Hungary as the only NATO member that hasn't given the green light to Sweden's accession.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Sweden’s imminent accession to NATO and Finland’s approval last year are key diplomatic wins for international security. Peace is attained through unity and strength, so adding two historically neutral countries from northern Europe to the military alliance will go a long way toward deterring aggression. With Russia on the offensive in Ukraine, all hands must be on deck to stop further attacks. While some countries may want to keep out of conflict, modern defense requires a unified front, and NATO is the main protector of the global order.
Establishment-critical narrative
NATO claims to seek peace in Europe, but the fact is that the expansion of the aggressive military alliance is only destabilizing the continent. NATO has essentially become an anti-Russian alliance that seeks to provoke Moscow and create conflict. Moreover, NATO is destroying the concept of neutrality and non-interventionism by calling on all members to pick a side in conflicts that have nothing to do with them. NATO is hostile toward its perceived enemies, and Sweden is actually inching closer towards provoking conflict, not deterring it.