Hope to solve the Turkey herd in a few weeks
On Thursday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg is in Copenhagen, among other things to meet with the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
At the top of the agenda are Sweden and Finland’s recent applications to become part of NATO.
Stoltenberg warmly welcomes the two Nordic countries into the defense alliance, but for the time being, Turkey is putting an end to an easy and quick process.
– A challenges
They believe that Sweden and Finland are guesthouses for terrorists, and that they support the terrorist organization PKK. Both countries have denied the allegations.
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Stoltenberg asked questions from TV 2 about how he sees the possibility of a solution.
Good to meet Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in #Denmarka faithful #NATO Allies make important contributions to our common security. We discussed the applications of our close partners #Finland & #Sweden& the need to strengthen our transatlantic alliance. pic.twitter.com/OC45ujLMZT
– Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) May 19, 2022
– This is a challenge we must solve together, in dialogue with Sweden and Finland. When a NATO country like Turkey comes with its concerns, we must take it seriously and sit down and find a solution, says Stoltenberg.
– Confident in solution
He is clear that Turkey is an important NATO country facing very special security challenges.
– No NATO country has experienced more terror in Turkey, and no other NATO country has more refugees in Turkey. All this is in the big picture. But I am confident that we will find a solution, says the NATO chief.
But exactly how quickly Stoltenberg expects to resolve the conflict, he is careful to answer.
– Talk about weeks
– I will not give a precise indication of how fast it will be, but the goal is as fast as possible. We’ve talked about weeks in the past, and that’s still our goal, he says.
The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is also optimistic.
– All NATO countries, including Turkey, have an interest in strengthening the alliance, Fredriksen said about the Turkey situation. She explained that it is precisely a strengthening of NATO Swedish and Finnish membership involves.