In the realm of international politics and diplomacy, situations sometimes arise that would evoke ethical and moral questions in the usual business world. One such situation is the recent development in the NATO expansion process, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved Sweden's entry into the alliance, sparking speculation about possible political bribes.
This step followed more than a year of negotiations between Turkey and Sweden, during which Stockholm had to address several sensitive issues deemed problematic by Ankara. Changes in Sweden's anti-terrorism legislation and the lifting of the arms export ban to Turkey are seen as key measures that led to Turkish approval. Additionally, diplomatic gestures from other countries, including Canada and the Netherlands, indicated a relaxation of certain sanctions against Turkey.
At the same time, there has been speculation about a possible deal between Turkey and the United States, where Ankara seeks modern F-16 fighter jets in exchange for its consent to Sweden's NATO membership. This information came to light after U.S. President Joe Biden sent a letter to Congress urging the approval of the sale of these aircraft to Turkey. This move was also supported by the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Jeff Flake, who emphasized the importance of a quick decision by Congress.
In this complex diplomatic dance, it appears that Sweden, traditionally a neutral nation, which applied for NATO membership along with Finland in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is now on the brink of joining the alliance. While most member states have already approved the entry of both countries, approval from Hungary is still pending.
Czech Foreign Minister Lipavský welcomed Turkey's approval and expressed hope that Hungary will soon follow suit. Nevertheless, Sweden's entry into NATO raises questions about transparency and ethics in international politics, particularly in regard to possible political bribes and secret agreements.