Vilnius, Lithuania - Sweden's NATO membership bid has encountered a significant non-diplomatic obstacle, causing concern among the nation and NATO officials. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has announced that the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership will be delayed until at least October due to the parliament's recess.

Erdogan explained that the parliament has a two-month holiday, and it will not reconvene before October, hindering the ratification process. While this news has unsettled Western leaders who had hoped for a swift resolution, Erdogan reassured that Turkey aims to complete the process as quickly as possible.

Notably, despite previous opposition, Erdogan has now expressed support for Sweden's NATO membership. During the NATO summit, he agreed to forward the accession protocol to Turkey's parliament and work closely with them for ratification. However, a specific timeline for Sweden's membership remains uncertain. Erdogan emphasized that there are many international agreements and legislative proposals to be discussed, prioritized based on importance.

It is worth mentioning that Turkey and Hungary are currently the only two NATO member countries that have not ratified Sweden's membership application. While Hungary's opposition is expected to be resolved, Turkey has had disagreements with Sweden over Kurdish issues and has criticized Sweden for hosting Kurdish militants. Nevertheless, Erdogan's support for Sweden's NATO membership signifies a positive shift in Turkey's stance.