Turkey backs Sweden's Nato membership - Stoltenberg

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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support Sweden's bid to join Nato, the military alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg says.

He said the Turkish leader would forward Sweden's bid to the parliament in Ankara and "ensure ratification".

Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: "I am very happy, it is a good day for Sweden."

Turkey had previously spent months blocking Sweden's application, accusing it of hosting Kurdish militants.

As one of Nato's 31 members, Turkey has a veto over any new country joining the group.

Reacting to the news, US President Joe Biden said he welcomed the commitment by President Erdogan to proceed with "swift ratification".

 

"I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd Nato ally," a White House statement said.

 

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[Olav Seglem]

Came to his sences-at last....

[Tug]

A good day for freedom Ukraine and the world not so good for Putin 

[LosLobo]

It seems that some EU members aren't too happy about the EU condition to Turkey agreeing to Sweden joining NATO.

 

Democracy is part of the EU's requirement and Erdogan seems to be a bit too autocratic since his 2016 purges.

 

Nevertheless Biden has a card up his sleeve with his F-16 deal to Ankara which is based on agreement to Sweden's ascension to NATO.

 

From the OP:

 

'Earlier on Monday, President Erdogan had also appeared to link Turkish support for Sweden's Nato bid to the EU re-opening frozen membership talks with Ankara.

 

'EU officials were quick to reject the demand, saying those were two separate issues.'

 

'But in a statement after the deal was announced, Nato said Sweden would actively support efforts to 'reinvigorate Turkey's EU accession process'.

 

Also......Turkey Tries New Way to Get Into European Union