Stoltenberg: Finland and Sweden cannot join NATO without meeting Turkey’s demands

Stoltenberg: Finland and Sweden will not be able to join NATO without meeting Turkey’s demands

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Sweden and Finland are unlikely to become candidates for NATO membership in the organization’s next summit if Turkey’s demands are not met before the summit begins, Anadolu Agency reported.

At the same time, the Secretary-General indicated that Sweden and Finland will be able to participate as invited countries in the summit to be held in Madrid from 28-30 June.

“My goal is to speed up the process of expanding the alliance, and we still have time for that,” Stoltenberg said.

Turkey obstructed the start of negotiations in NATO on the accession of Finland and Sweden. Ankara is calling on Sweden and Finland to publicly condemn the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – which the Turkish authorities consider terrorism – and for these countries to lift arms export restrictions that they have imposed on Turkey along with several other members of the European Union.

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