Turkey backs Sweden's NATO membership after promise for support for EU accession

Photo: NATO

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After a trilateral meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg late yesterday, Turkey decided endorse Sweden's NATO membership.

Following the talks held in Vilnius, Lithuania, a joint statement was released, announcing Turkey's intention to submit Sweden's NATO Accession Protocols to the parliament.

The statement highlights Turkey's commitment to supporting Sweden's full integration into NATO and underscores the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two nations.

The agreement also addresses the issue of "counterterrorism," as Sweden pledges to uphold the Trilateral Declaration's provisions, including the comprehensive fight against all forms of terrorism. Notably, Sweden emphasizes its commitment to refrain from providing support to organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the "Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)."

In addition to endorsing Sweden's NATO membership, the joint statement reaffirms Turkey's long-standing aspiration to join the European Union. Acknowledging that Turkey's EU membership process has been stalled due to certain unfulfilled requirements, Sweden pledges active support for Turkey's efforts to update the Turkey-EU Customs Union and revitalize the accession process. (Mİ/VK)