"Sweden's NATO Bid Advances as Turkey Eyes F-16 Tech for Homegrown Jets"
Sweden is on the brink of becoming NATO's 32nd member following Finland's recent accession, with only Turkish and Hungarian parliamentary ratifications pending. The move comes after Sweden agreed to Turkey's demands for stricter terrorism laws and lifted arms embargoes. Sweden's defense spending is set to meet NATO's target, and the country is expected to enhance the alliance's military capabilities, particularly in the air and sea domains. The strategic island of Gotland could serve as a forward operating base, significantly bolstering NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea. This development occurs amidst concerns over the future of military aid for Ukraine, especially with the potential change in US policy under a possible Trump administration.