Re-agreements were reached on the approval of F-16 B70s, lifting existing sanctions by US, the Customs Union update and visa-free travel to the EU. And on the EF T4s, which stand as an alternative to the B70, I think there were assurances about potential problems that could create procurement risks. I mean Germany.
It's not just Sweden that is on the scales here - there are many other issues at stake, ranging from the EU's energy security to the acceleration of some other issues due to Ukraine war. This is because the President interrupted his meeting with the NATO secretary and went into a meeting with the president of the European Council. There is a three-legged bargaining table here. The Atlantic pact, the structure representing the interests of NATO and the US, the structure representing the interests of the EU and European states, and on the third leg, the stakeholders Sweden and Turkiye.
According to various NATO sources, TR got what it wanted from the table. But I think the most important detail is Stoltenberg's statement that the timetable of the Turkish Parliament should be respected. In other words, just before the meetings, RTE's political leverage to frustrate the ambivalence of the US congress seems to have paid off.
The conditions are difficult for us, yes, but there are very difficult conditions surrounding the other stakeholders at the table. If there is no win-win agreement, NATO will not only die mentally but also physically. The Swedish-Turkish dialogue is a key factor shaping NATO's future.
