In a significant development, Turkey's parliament has approved Sweden's bid to join NATO, putting an end to the 20-month-long delay that had caused frustration among Ankara's Western allies. The approval came after more than four hours of intense debates, with legislators ratifying Sweden's accession protocol by a significant margin of 287 votes to 55, with four abstentions.

The next step in the process is for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to sign the bill into law in the coming days, officially granting Sweden NATO membership. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his satisfaction following the vote, stating that Stockholm was now "one step closer" to joining the alliance.

This approval by Turkey's parliament leaves Hungary as the last holdout in the NATO accession process that started nearly two years ago in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has extended an invitation to Kristersson for a visit to negotiate Hungary's potential entry into the military alliance.

Sweden's bid to join NATO was initially met with resistance from Erdogan, who expressed concerns about Stockholm's perceived acceptance of Kurdish groups viewed as "terrorists" by Turkey. However, Sweden has taken steps to address these concerns, tightening its antiterrorism legislation and implementing necessary security measures targeting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is also designated as a "terrorist" group by the European Union and the United States.

Turkey's more nuanced stance towards Russia was also a factor in the delayed approval of Sweden's bid. While maintaining economic ties and trade with Russia, Turkey has also supported Ukraine by supplying them with essential arms. President Erdogan has been one of the few NATO leaders to hold regular meetings and phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with reports suggesting that Putin may make his first wartime visit to Turkey next month.

The significance of Sweden's NATO accession lies in the strengthening of the alliance's presence in Northern Europe. Finland, Sweden's neighbor, became the 31st member of NATO last April, effectively doubling the length of NATO's border with Russia. This move has substantially bolstered the defense capabilities of the three Baltic nations that joined NATO following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The approval of Sweden's NATO bid also holds implications for Turkey's ongoing negotiations with the United States regarding the delivery of F-16 fighter jets for its aging air force. Turkey has demanded that the U.S. fulfill its pledge, and U.S. officials have indicated that if Sweden's NATO accession is finalized, congressional approval for the fighter jet delivery could be obtained.

The news of Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership bid has been welcomed by the United States, reaffirming their support for Sweden's integration into the alliance. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a recent visit to Istanbul, reiterated the U.S.'s readiness for Sweden to formally join NATO.

With Turkey's approval, Sweden is now on the verge of becoming a member of NATO, further strengthening the alliance and enhancing security cooperation in Northern Europe. The final frontier now lies with Hungary, and negotiations are expected to take place between Prime Minister Kristersson and Prime Minister Orban to bring Hungary into the fold of the military alliance.