Nato chief to visit Ankara for Sweden

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg yesterday said he would visit Ankara “in the near future” to push the ratification of Sweden’s membership, after the reelection of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“I’m confident of course that Sweden will be a member, and then we’re working for that to happen as early as possible,” Stoltenberg said at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Oslo.

Mr Stoltenberg said he had already spoken to Mr Erdogan by phone earlier this week to “highlight the importance of making progress” on Sweden’s membership.

Turkey and Hungary are the only Nato countries that have yet to ratify Sweden’s membership bid. Finland formally joined the alliance in April.

Mr Erdogan, who was re-elected on Sunday for another five-year term as Turkey’s president, has accused Sweden of being a haven for “terrorists”, especially members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said Stockholm had fulfilled “all the commitments” to join Nato and urged Turkey and Hungary to allow his country into the alliance.