NATO – Sweden

Sweden has now been waiting for about a year and a half to join NATO. But the delay will not be in vain according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “A few weeks ago, President Erdoğan submitted the ratification papers to the Turkish parliament. The Committee on Foreign Affairs has now begun its deliberations. The fact that Erdoğan submitted the papers means that he actually recommends ratification. Because that is part of the proposal to Parliament. Therefore, I expect that Erdoğan will now work with the Parliament to secure ratification,” Stoltenberg said.
     Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said Tuesday that there is hope for Swedish membership soon. On the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Brussels, Billström held a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on Tuesday. At the meeting, according to Billström, there was good news: “There he said that he hopes that Sweden can become a member within a few weeks,” Billström said in a statement to Swedish media. /ritzau/