Sweden hopes to join NATO in July
loading… Sweden hopes to join NATO in July. PHOTO/Reuters STOCKHOLM – Sweden still hoping to become a member NATO at the alliance summit in Vilnius in July. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Billstrom, Friday (26/5/2023). Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year convinced Sweden and Finland to ditch their […] Sweden and Finland are still hoping to become a member NATO at the alliance summit in Vilnius in July. The Russian invasion of Ukraine last year convinced Sweden and Finland to ditch their long-held policy of military non-alignment and seek the security of NATO's collective defense commitments. Finland joined NATO last month, but Sweden’s membership was held up by objections from Turkiye and Hungary. Turkey and Hungary have both rejected Sweden's application citing complaints over Sweden's criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's record on democracy and the rule of law. The Turkish parliament is expected to start the ratification process once the dust settles.
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STOCKHOLM – Sweden still hoping to become a member NATO at the alliance summit in Vilnius in July. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Billstrom, Friday (26/5/2023).
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year convinced Sweden and Finland to ditch their long-held policy of military non-alignment and seek the security of NATO’s collective defense commitments.
Finland joined NATO last month, but Sweden’s membership was held up by objections from Turkiye and Hungary.
“There will be no plan B or anything like that. Plan B is plan A — which is full membership in NATO and that is what the government and I will work our way up to Vilnius,” he told reporters, as quoted by Reuters.
Turks are voting in a tight second round of presidential elections on Sunday, with incumbent Tayyip Erdogan leading after the first ballot.
Billstrom said he hoped the Turkish parliament would start the ratification process once the dust settled. “It’s time for Turkey to start the ratification process and uphold the deal,” Billstrom said.
Sweden and Finland reached a three-way deal in Madrid in June last year aimed at addressing Turkey’s security concerns. But Ankara continues to ignore Sweden, saying Stockholm hosts members of a militant group it deems terrorists.
Hungary also objected to Sweden’s application citing complaints over Sweden’s criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s record on democracy and the rule of law.
Billstrom said it was unclear what objections Budapest had to Sweden’s membership. “Hungary gave its support at the summit in Madrid last year so that Sweden was given invitational status without any conditions,” he said.
Topics: Sweden