Turkey’s talks with Sweden, Finland made little progress

ANKARA, 28 May 2022, (TON): According to two sources “talks between Turkish officials and delegations from Sweden and Finland this week in Turkey made little headway overcoming Ankara’s objections to the Nordic countries joining NATO, and it is not yet clear when further discussions will take place.”

A senior Turkish official said “it is not an easy process.”

“They need to take concrete steps that will be difficult. Further negotiations will continue. But a date doesn’t seem very close.”

Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO last week to boost their security in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

All 30 NATO members must approve enlargement plans. But Turkey challenged the move saying the Nordic countries harbour people linked to what it calls terrorist groups, and because they have halted arms exports to Ankara.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said “his country expects Sweden and Finland to take concrete action and halt such support before it lifts its objections.”

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