ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - NATO chief on Tuesday expressed his optimism at Sweden soon joining the alliance as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Turkey to ratify the country’s ascension, days after the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said the possibility of Sweden joining the alliance ahead of the July summit in Lithuania was “within reach”.
"There are no guarantees but it's absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by then," Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo ahead of a foreign ministers’ meeting.
In a visit to Sweden on Tuesday, Blinken said the “time is now” to finalize the process, adding that Stockhold had addressed Turkey’s concerns.
Sweden and Finland reversed their policies of neutrality in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year, launching a process to join NATO out of security concerns. Unanimous approval is request by alliance members and Turkey has used this leverage to pressure them in dealing with Kurds in the countries with alleged ties to armed groups.
Finland was ratified as a member in April but Ankara continues to block Sweden from joining.
Blinken said that Turkey “has rightly focused attention on some of its security concerns that both Sweden and Finland have taken remarkable steps to address, important ones.”
He spoke to reporters during a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
"So we urge both Türkiye [Turkey] and Hungary, which has also not yet ratified, to ratify the accession as quickly as possible." he stated.
“We look forward to this process being completed in the weeks ahead. We have no doubt that it can be, and it should be, and we expect it to be,” he added.
US President Joe Biden discussed Sweden’s ratification as well as Ankara’s desire to purchase F-16 fighter jets a day prior.
Blinken stated that Sweden’s NATO membership and the fighter jets are “distinct issues.” Biden has also repeatedly stated that he would not accept a quid pro quo by providing the fighter jets in exchange for Ankara ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership.
“We believe it’s important that Türkiye have the F-16s or the F-16 upgrades, as a critical member of the NATO Alliance,” Blinken added.
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