NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed on Wednesday that discussions in Turkey regarding Sweden’s aspiration to join the alliance had achieved some progress. Both sides have agreed to continue talks in the coming days, marking a positive step forward.
Sweden and Finland submitted their applications to join NATO in May, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Turkey has blocked their accession due to concerns over their alleged support for Kurdish militants.
The talks held in Ankara were the first high-level meeting between Sweden, Finland, and Turkey since the Nordic countries expressed their interest in joining NATO. The negotiations involved Stoltenberg, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, and Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto.
Stoltenberg acknowledged that “some progress” had been made during the talks, but emphasized the need for further efforts. He stated that discussions would continue in the coming days to address Turkey’s concerns and finalize the accession protocols for Sweden and Finland.
The inclusion of Sweden and Finland in NATO would significantly strengthen the alliance by extending its borders to the Baltic Sea. However, the lifting of Turkey’s veto on their accession remains uncertain.
The talks in Ankara demonstrate NATO’s commitment to addressing Turkey’s concerns and finding common ground. Nonetheless, it is too early to determine the ultimate success of these negotiations.
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