In a significant advancement for Sweden's bid to join NATO, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has officially signed off on the country's application.

This endorsement follows a prolonged period of negotiations and a parliamentary approval in Turkey.

With this move, the ratification document is set to be forwarded to the U.

S. State Department, which oversees NATO's foundational treaties.

Sweden's application, initially submitted in the summer of 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has thus far been met with broad support among NATO members.

However, Hungary remains the final hurdle in the process.

Despite earlier assurances from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that his country would not be the last to ratify Sweden's application, recent developments have put Hungary in the spotlight.

Uncertainty looms as the Hungarian Parliament's stance appears to contradict Orbán's supportive messages, with further delays potentially impacting the timeline for Sweden's full NATO membership.

The international community is closely monitoring the situation, anticipating Hungary's next move.