Swedish Foreign Minister: We will probably join NATO in a few weeks

According to Fars News Agency International Group, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said after a conversation with his Turkish counterpart that the country’s long road to join NATO may reach its destination in the next few weeks. .

Swedish Foreign Minister met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. He said that he hopes that his country will become a member of NATO within a few weeks. He declined to comment on whether he meant two weeks or more.

Western NATO allies reportedly pressured Turkey on Tuesday to finally agree to Sweden joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The US State Department spokesman said Anthony Blinken told Fidan that Sweden’s request should be approved as soon as possible.

Also, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said in line with pressure on Turkey, “The strength and credibility of our alliance is at risk.” We should not lose another day.” Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members who have not yet agreed to Sweden’s request, 18 months after its proposal.

Turkey’s parliament began debating Sweden’s membership application this month after the country’s president set the process in motion following an agreement at a NATO summit in July. Kurds.

Twenty-nine other NATO member countries hoped to officially welcome Sweden’s arrival at yesterday’s meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. But this process is still stuck at the parliamentary committee level in Turkey.

With Turkey’s agreement after initial opposition, Finland officially joined the Western NATO military alliance on April 4, but regarding Sweden’s membership, Turkish legislators refused to approve a similar protocol and They want Stockholm to implement all the obligations of the Madrid Memorandum related to the fight against terrorism in order to get Ankara’s approval. To join NATO, the consent of all members of this alliance is required.

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