Stoltenberg to travel to Turkey to discuss Sweden's NATO membership

1/6/2023 18:06

        NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday he would soon travel to Turkey to discuss Sweden's NATO membership, in a bid to close a process that has been delayed due to objections from member countries Turkey and Hungary.
        
        Speaking during a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo, Stoltenberg said he had spoken earlier this week to Tayyip Erdogan, who at the weekend won re-election as Turkey's president.
        
        With Turkish elections over and Erdogan winning another term as president, some NATO foreign ministers expressed optimism Ankara would now lift its objections to Stockholm's bid to join the military alliance.
        
        Turkey ratified Finland's NATO accession in March, but says Sweden harbors members of militant groups it considers terrorists.