Finland and Sweden have applied for NATO membership in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But the candidatures have met opposition from Turkey, which is angry about the support the two countries are providing to Kurdish militants and arms embargoes against Turkey, according to Ankara. Andersson called the talks “good and constructive”. However, both Stoltenberg and Andersson agreed that the talks did not lead to a breakthrough.
Andersson reiterated that Sweden strongly opposes terrorism “in any form” and is “not a haven for terrorists”. But apparently the Turkish delegation could not relent. A new round of talks between the three countries involved and NATO will take place on Tuesday in the Spanish capital Madrid, ahead of the NATO summit that will take place there on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Any NATO membership requires the approval of all thirty members of the alliance, and Turkey is yet to grant that approval to Sweden and Finland. Turkey has been a NATO ally for more than 70 years and has the second largest army in the alliance.