Finland and Sweden flag for some progress in NATO talks with Turkey
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto speaks at a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (not pictured) in Stockholm, Sweden on May 17, 2022. Photo: Reuters
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Finnish President Sauli Niinisto speaks at a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (not pictured) in Stockholm, Sweden on May 17, 2022. Photo: Reuters
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Tuesday that some progress had been made in negotiations aimed at overcoming Turkey’s objection to the Nordic countries’ attempts to join NATO.
Turkey has blocked offers from Sweden and Finland to join the Western military alliance and accuses them of supporting groups that Ankara sees as terrorists.
NATO leaders are expected to urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over their bid when they meet for a three-day summit in Madrid on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of determination.
– We are prepared for something positive to happen today, but it can also take longer, says Linde to Svenska Dagbladet (SvD).
Finland’s Niinisto was somewhat more cautious, saying that there had been more mutual understanding in the talks but that he was neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the outcome of the meeting with Erdogan, NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson later today. Madrid.
“The general perception is that the discussions went a little better, which should mean that understanding has increased somewhat on both sides,” Niinisto told reporters, referring to previous talks between diplomats.
Speaking before leaving for the NATO summit in Madrid, Erdogan said that the Nordic states must take into account Turkey’s concerns and deliver not just words but results if they want to become NATO members.