Turkey's leader will work to approve Sweden's NATO bid ASAP, the alliance's head says

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson shake hands in front of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg prior to their meeting, on the eve of a NATO summit, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Monday. (Yves Herman/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey's leader has agreed to secure swift Turkish parliament approval of Sweden's bid to join the defense alliance, in a breakthrough after Turkey has blocked the Nordic country's entry for over a year.

Stoltenberg announced the news after meeting Monday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. "I'm glad to announce that, as a result, President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification," Stoltenberg said in a news conference.