Sweden and Finland plan to hold talks with Turkey in Berlin on Saturday following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s opposition to the two Nordic countries joining NATO, the two foreign ministries said.
Swedish Foreign Minister Anne Linde “will have the opportunity to discuss a possible Swedish candidacy” with her Turkish counterpart during an informal meeting of NATO ministers to which Sweden and Finland are invited, she told AFP. .
“I hope we will continue to have positive messages from all 30 NATO member states. Many of the 30 allies have expressed strong public support for Sweden and Finland,” he added.
“The Turkish government has not sent us this kind of message directly,” she said.
Finland and Sweden joining NATO would be a “mistake”said earlier today Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Nordic countries have become a safe haven for terrorists, stressed the Islamist-conservative head of the Turkish state. “They are even members of parliament in some countries,” he said.
The accession of new countries to the North Atlantic Alliance requires the consent of the parliaments of all 30 member states, which means that a Turkish opposition could delay the full integration of the two northern European countries into NATO. Turkey could even veto the accession of a new member.
Finland: Let’s go through the process step by step
During a press conference at the same time in Helsinki, Finnish Foreign Minister Peka Haavisto also announced his intention to “continue the discussion” with Turkish Minister Mevlüt ÇavuÅŸoλουlu.
“I think we need to be patient in these processes and this is not happening overnight … Let ‘s go step by step,” he said, noting that Finland had not yet officially announced its bid to join NATO.
Erdogan’s statement today seems to have come as a surprise to Helsinki, as Haavisto has visited Turkey twice in recent months and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto spoke by telephone with Erdogan in early April.
Following the phone call, Niinisto wrote on Twitter: “Turkey supports Finland’s goals.”
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
