Turkey agrees to support Sweden's entry into NATO

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support the entry of Sweden into NATO, removing a key hurdle that had thwarted Stockholm's effort to join alongside Finland amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the development ahead of the NATO summit in Lithuania after the pair met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, the New York Times reported. The reversal from Ankara appears to clear the way for the country to join the alliance. Stockholm's other detractor, Hungary, has indicated it would relent should Turkey also do so.

At issue for Turkey was a demand that Sweden crack down on dissidents within the country. Many groups whom Erdogan regards as either terrorist or seditious in nature operate in Sweden. Both Turkey and Sweden agreed that "counterterrorism cooperation is a long-term effort, which will continue beyond Sweden’s accession to NATO," according to the NATO statement on the matter.

Sweden and Finland applied to join the alliance jointly. Both met with initial opposition from Turkey, though Ankara permitted Finland's accession much earlier.

The announcement comes as Ukraine continues to lobby for admission to the alliance amid the Russian invasion, a prospect its members have repeatedly eschewed.

Leaders from NATO nations are gathering in Vilnius to address security matters related to the alliance.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.