Türkiye Takes Final Step On Sweden's NATO Membership

National flags of member countries in NATO flying outside organization headquarters in Brussels. (AFP)
National flags of member countries in NATO flying outside organization headquarters in Brussels. (AFP)
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Türkiye Takes Final Step On Sweden's NATO Membership

National flags of member countries in NATO flying outside organization headquarters in Brussels. (AFP)
National flags of member countries in NATO flying outside organization headquarters in Brussels. (AFP)

Türkiye's government newspaper on Thursday published a protocol on Sweden's accession to NATO, a final technical step in Ankara's ratification of the Nordic nation's bid to join the US-led alliance.

The Official Gazette's publication of the law on Sweden's accession to the alliance, which the Turkish parliament approved on Tuesday, ends a nearly two-year saga that tested Ankara's relations with its Western allies.

Erdogan had earlier signed the document, meaning that Türkiye has completed all its required steps, AFP reported.

Türkiye's green light leaves Hungary as the last holdout in an accession process that Sweden and Finland, which had adhered to decades of military non-alignment, began in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.

Finland became the 31st nation of the alliance last April.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Thursday he was ready to meet his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban to help pave the way for Budapest's quick approval of the bid.

NATO membership applications require unanimous ratifications by all alliance members.



Amid Gaza War, Israel Defense Exports Jump 13% in 2024 to Record $15 bln

A remote controlled machine gun is attached to an Israeli military vehicle during an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 4, 2025. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta/File Photo
A remote controlled machine gun is attached to an Israeli military vehicle during an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 4, 2025. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta/File Photo
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Amid Gaza War, Israel Defense Exports Jump 13% in 2024 to Record $15 bln

A remote controlled machine gun is attached to an Israeli military vehicle during an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 4, 2025. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta/File Photo
A remote controlled machine gun is attached to an Israeli military vehicle during an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 4, 2025. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta/File Photo

Israel's defense exports rose 13% in 2024 to a record of nearly $15 billion, led by missiles, rockets and air-defense systems with over half the deliveries going to European militaries, the government said on Wednesday.

Military exports, the Defense Ministry said in a statement, have more than doubled over the past five years, reaching nearly $15 billion in value in 2024.

The ministry said that since the outbreak of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's defense industries have operated in emergency mode with round-the-clock arms production while also maintaining manufacturing for foreign clients.

"The new record in Israeli defense exports, achieved during a year of war, reflects more than anything else the growing global appreciation for Israeli technology’s proven capabilities," said Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram, Reuters reported.

"Israeli systems have resonated throughout the Middle East this past year. More nations want to protect their citizens using Israeli defense equipment."

The ministry said there was significant growth in contracts from Europe last year, where exports accounted for 54% of the total, up from 36% in 2023. Asia-Pacific was next at 23% with the United States at 9%.

Missile, rocket and air defense systems comprised 48% of defence exports, followed by vehicles and armoured personnel carriers at 9%, and satellites and space systems, radar and electronic warfare, manned aircraft and avionics at 8% each.

Some 57% of contracts amounted to more than $100 million.