It's time to admit Sweden into NATO – US State Secretary, Antony Blinken

Stockholm/Washington – Sweden may become a NATO member before the summit in July if Turkey withdraws its objections to Sweden’s admission to NATO, US State Secretary Antony Blinken has said. US State Secretary, Blinken is currently on a tour of Europe and is scheduled to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Norway on Wednesday. At the same time, while presenting the issue of Sweden’s NATO membership, US State Secretary Blinken also claimed that the Biden administration was positive in giving ‘F-16 fighter aircraft to Turkey.

Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that started last year, the US and NATO stepped up military capacity-building activities in Europe. Under this, pressure to join NATO was exerted on these countries of Europe, Finland and Sweden. The governments of both countries recognised the inclusion in NATO by putting forward the reason for Russian aggression. Among them, Finland officially became a member of NATO in April. But as indicated, Sweden’s membership will have to wait longer.

Moreover, Turkey’s ruling government adopted a proactive stance and said it would object to Sweden’s NATO membership and allow that to happen only if Turkey’s demands are fulfilled. After the mediation done by the US and NATO on this issue also proved unsuccessful, Turkish President Recep Erdogan clarified that his objections remain. Thus, the United States seems to have started trying to show the greed of ‘F-16’ to Turkey.

Furthermore, it has surfaced that the issue of Sweden and ‘F-16’ was figured in the recent discussion between President Erdogan and US President Joe Biden. Although the US Secretary of State has tried to reveal that these two issues are independent, he clarified that both things are important for the security of Europe. US State Secretary Blinken also said that the United States hopes both will be fulfilled soon. Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has also informed that he is in touch with Turkey on the membership issue.

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