International

Turkey Supports Sweden’s Nato membership

Published

3 years ago

July 11, 2023

336 Views

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support Sweden’s bid to join Nato, the military alliance’s chief Jens Stoltenberg says.

He said the Turkish leader would forward Sweden’s bid to parliament in Ankara and “ensure ratification”.

Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: “I am very happy, it is a good day for Sweden.”

Turkey had previously spent months blocking Sweden’s application, accusing it of hosting Kurdish militants.

As one of Nato’s 31 members, Turkey has a veto over any new country joining the group.

Reacting to the news, US President Joe Biden said he welcomed the commitment by President Erdogan to proceed with “swift ratification”.

“I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd Nato ally,” a White House statement said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock tweeted: “At 32, we’re all safer together.” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Sweden joining would “make us all safer”.

Mr Stoltenberg announced the agreement late on Monday following talks between the Turkish and Swedish leaders in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

The Nato chief described it as a “historic step”, but stressed that a “clear date” could not be given for when Sweden would join the military alliance – as this relied on the Turkish parliament.

Sweden and its eastern neighbour Finland, both long considered as militarily neutral, announced their intention to join Nato in May last year, several months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Finland formally joined in April.

Mr Stoltenberg said Turkey and Sweden had addressed “Turkey’s legitimate security concerns” and as a result Sweden had amended its constitution, changed its laws, expanded its counter-terrorism operation against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ party) and resumed arms exports to Turkey.

Turkey and Hungary are currently the only two Nato members yet to ratify Sweden’s membership application.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday that ratification of Sweden’s bid is now “only a technical question”.

On Monday, President Erdogan had also appeared to link Turkish support for Sweden’s Nato bid to the EU re-opening frozen membership talks with Ankara.

EU officials were quick to reject the demand, saying those were two separate issues.

But in a statement after the deal was announced, Nato said Sweden would actively support efforts to “reinvigorate Turkey’s EU accession process” and this would include “modernisation of the EU-Türkiye customs union and visa liberalisation”.

Turkey first applied to join the EU way back in 1987, but its drift towards authoritarianism under President Erdogan brought the accession process to a halt.

However since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr Erdogan has also played a unique role as a Nato leader with influence in Moscow.

He helped broker last year’s Black Sea Grain Initiative, which enables Ukraine to export agricultural products from its ports.

Turkey has helped keep the deal alive, despite frequent Russian threats to withdraw.

But Turkey has also angered the Kremlin by supplying armed drones to Ukraine.

Related Topics:Nato membership Sweden Turkey

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International

President Tinubu Approves 65 Ambassadors for Postings [Full List]

President Tinubu has directed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners.

Published

16 hours ago

March 6, 2026

OCHEFA

27 Views

• President Bola Tinubu. Credit: X

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the postings of 31 career and 34 non-career ambassadors to various countries and the United Nations.

The Senate confirmed the ambassadors-designate last December.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President(Information and Strategy), confirmed the postings, on Friday.

NON CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS

1. SENATOR GRACE BENT: LOME-TOGO
2. SEN. ITA ENANG: SOUTH AFRICA
3. IKPEAZU VICTOR: SPAIN
4. NKECHI LINDA UFOCHUKWU: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL
5. MAHMUD YAKUBU: QATAR
6. PAUL OGA ADIKWU: THE VATICAN CITY HOLY SEE
7. VICE ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBAS: THE PHILIPPINES
8. MR. RENO OMOKRI: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
9. HON. (ENGR.) ABASI BRAIMAH (FMHR): BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
11. MRS. ERELU ANGELA ADEBAYO: PORTUGAL
12. BARR. OLUMILUA OLUWAYIMIKA AYOTUNWA: TOKYO, JAPAN
13. RT. HON. UGWUANYI IFEANYI LAWRENCE: ATHENS, GREECE
15. BARR. CHIOMA PRISCILLA OHAKIM: WARSAW, POLAND
16. AMINU DALHATU: UNITED KINGDOM, UK
17. LT. GEN ABDULRAHMAN BELLO
18 DAMBAZAU: BEIJING, CHINA
19 .HON. TASIU MUSA MAIGARI: GAMBIA
20. OLUFEMI PEDRO: AUSTRALIA
21. BARR. MUHAMMED UBANDOMA ALIYU: ARGENTINA
22. LATEEF KAYODE ARE: USA
23. AMB. JOSEPH SOLA IJI: RUSSIA
24. SEN. JIMOH IBRAHIM: UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
25. FEMI FANI KAYODE: GERMANY
26. PROF. ISAAK FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE. OTTAWA, CANADA
27. AJIMOBI FATIMA FLORENCE (F): AUSTRIA
28. MRS. LOLA AKANDE (F): SWEDEN
29. AYODELE OKE: FRANCE
30.YAKUBU N. GAMBO: SAUDI ARABIA
31. SENATOR PROF. NORA LADI DADUUT: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
32. BARR. ONUEZE CHUKWUJIKA JOE OKOCHA SAN: DUBLIN
33. DR. KULU HARUNA ABUBAKAR: TUNIS, TUNISIA
34. RT. HON. JERRY SAMUEL MANWE: PORT OF SPAIN, T&T

CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS

AMB. NWABIOLA EZENWA CHUKWUMEKA: COTE D’IV/OIRE
BESTO MAIMUNA IBRAHIM: NIAMEY-NIGER
MONICA OKWUCHUKWU ENEBECHI: SAO TOME, STP
AMB. MOHAMMED MAHMUD LELE: ALGIERS-ALGERIA
ENDONI SYNDOPH PAEBI: OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO
AHMED MOHAMMED MONGUNO: CAIRO EGYPT
AMB.JANE ADAMS (NEE OKON) MICHAEL (F): KINGSTON-JAMAICA
AMB. CLARK-OMERU ALEXANDRA (F): LUSAKA-ZAMBIA
CHIMA GEOGGREY LIOMA DAVID: BAMAKO-MALI
AMB. ODUMAH YVONNE EHINOSEN: MALABO –E/GUINEA
AMB WASA SEGUN IGE: BEIRUT, LEBANON
RUBEN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (F): ROME, ITALY
AMB.ONAGA OGECHUKWU KINGSLEY: MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE
AMB.MAGAJI UMAR: KINSASHA, DR CONGO
AMB.MUHAMMAD SAIDU DAHIRU: NEW DELHI-INDIA
AMB. ABDUSSALAM HABU ZAYYAD: DAKAR-SENEGAL
AMB SHEHU ILU BARDE: ACCRA GHANA
AMB.AMINU NASIR: ETHIOPIA
ABUBAKAR MUSA MUSA: N’DJAMENA, CHAD
AMB. HAIDARA MOHAMMED IDRIS: THE HAGUE-NETHERLANDS
AMB.BAKO ADAMU UMAR: RABAT-MOROCCO
AMB. SULU GAMBARI OLATUNJI AHMED: MALAYSIA
AMB.ROMATA MOHAMMED OMOBOLANLE (F): TANZANIA
AMB. SHAGA JOHN SHAMAH: BOTSWANA
SALAU, HAMZA MOHAMMED: TEHRAN, IRAN
AMB.IBRAHIM DANLAMI: KENYA
IBRAHIM ADEOLA MOPELOLA (F): COTONOU-BENIN
AMB.AYENI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
AMB.AKANDE WAHAB ADEKOLA: BERNE-SWITZERLAND
AMB. AREWA (NEE ADEDOKUN) ESTHER (F): WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA
AMB.GERGADI JOSEPH JOHN: LIBREVILLE-GABON
AMB. LUTHER OGBOMODE AYO-KALATA (F): SIERRA LEONE
DANLADI YAKUBU NYAKU : KHARTOUM-SUDAN
BELLO DOGON-DAJI HALIRU: BANGKOK, THAILAND

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu. Similarly, France has sent the agrément for Ambassador Ayo Oke.

The Ministry has also conveyed the nominations of the other 62 designated envoys to all the countries concerned, including a request for their agréments in line with standard diplomatic practice.

President Tinubu has directed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners.

Business

BPP Saves FG N1.1trn Public Sector Procurements

While speaking on beneficial ownership, the BPP DG harped on the need to ensure transparency and to, among others, weed out those he called same and multiple bidders.

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

OCHEFA

39 Views

Photo: Director -General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, during a courtesy call on the Registrar-General/CEO of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, March 5, 2026.

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) revealed that in the last 12 months, it saved 1.1 trillion for the government in view of its implementation of a robust price intelligence mechanisms.

The Director General of the BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this today during a courtesy call on the Registrar-General/CEO of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, to strengthen collaboration in order to support the present administration’s agenda for a trillion-dollar economy.

Dr. Adebowale recalled the long-standing collaboration between the two agencies which dates back to 2008 and therefore applauded the reforms being implemented by the Commission.

Adebowale remarked that the two agencies have a critical role to play in the efforts being made to realize a trillion dollar economy.

While speaking on beneficial ownership, the BPP DG harped on the need to ensure transparency and to, among others, weed out those he called same and multiple bidders.

While highlighting BPP’s reforms, Adebowale stressed the need for robust enforcement measures to ensure compliance and accountability by professional bodies whose executives often overstay their tenure of office in contravention of the code of corporate governance.

In his remarks, the Registrar-General highlighted CAC’s reform initiatives which are in tandem with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, especially Item 7 that harps on digitization and innovation.

The CAC boss, who enjoined the BPP to utilize the Commission’s globally acclaimed Beneficial Ownership Register to enhance their operations, also asked for collaboration on capacity development between the two agencies.

International

How Iran chooses its supreme leader, and who could be next?

Under Iran’s constitution, the supreme leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body elected by the public every eight years.

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

OCHEFA

54 Views

Key Contenders: Hassan Khomeini; Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Alireza Arafi.Credit: CNBC

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death following joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes has thrust Iran’s leadership into the urgent process of selecting a new supreme leader.

CNBC reports that under Iran’s constitution, the supreme leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body elected by the public every eight years.

Candidates for the Assembly are first vetted by the Guardian Council, tightly controlling who can run.

When the position becomes vacant, the Assembly convenes to deliberate and select a successor.

The decision requires a simple majority vote.In the interim, a provisional three-member leadership council assumes the supreme leader’s duties until a replacement is formally appointed.

In the interim, a provisional three-member leadership council assumes the supreme leader’s duties until a replacement is formally appointed.

On Sunday, local media reported that the temporary council comprises President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, who serves as the Guardian Council’s representative.

The council’s authority is strictly transitional, while the Assembly of Experts retains sole constitutional power to choose Iran’s next supreme leader.

On Polymarket, traders are pricing Mohseni-Ejei as the narrow frontrunner at roughly 18%. Other top contenders include Arafi and Iranian cleric Hassan Khomeini.

The “Position abolished” outcome is trading close behind, suggesting that while markets still lean toward an individual successor, there is meaningful speculation around a potential structural change to the office itself.

Here are some key contenders:

1. Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei
.

Mohseni-Ejei has been the Chief Justice of Iran since July 2021, overseeing the country’s judiciary and supervising legal policy across the Islamic Republic. Before that, he served as prosecutor-general from 2009 to 2014, was first deputy head and spokesperson of the judiciary from 2014 until 2021, and earlier held national security roles, including minister of intelligence from 2005 until 2009.

He has also been a longtime member of the Expediency Discernment Council, a key advisory body to Iran’s leadership, and his career has spanned senior positions in both the judicial and security apparatus.

2. Hassan Khomeini

Khomeini is the grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, could theoretically serve as a bridge between the revolutionary system and reform-minded constituencies, said the Council on Foreign Relations.

CFR suggested that elevating someone like him might help preserve the core structure of the Islamic Republic, ease Iran’s international isolation, and address popular dissatisfaction at home.

3. Alireza Arafi

Arafi is a senior Iranian cleric and influential figure within the Islamic Republic’s religious and political hierarchy.

He has risen through the clerical establishment with a series of key appointments, including director of Iran’s seminaries, Friday Prayer leader in Qom, and member of both the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, the body constitutionally tasked with selecting the supreme leader.

Arafi’s roles in shaping theological education and vetting political candidates have made him a central fixture in Iran’s clerical power structure.

What’s next?

Under Article 111 of Iran’s constitution, the death or incapacity of the supreme leader immediately triggers the formation of a temporary leadership council to exercise his powers until a successor is chosen.The constitution does not set a strict deadline for the Assembly of Experts to appoint a new leader, but it states that the Assembly must act “in the shortest possible time.”