Finland and Sweden will join NATO together, present a common source against Turkey

By: MRT Desk

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Finland and Sweden will join NATO together, present a common source against Turkey

Finland and Sweden will join NATO at the same time, their prime ministers said, presenting a united front against Turkey that has raised doubts about both bids.

The two Nordic countries applied to join the alliance in May in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but met with objections from Turkey, which accused the two countries of harboring groups Ankara considers terrorist.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said Turkey’s president told her he had more questions for Sweden than for his country. But Marin said he would not leave Sweden behind in the process.

“It is very important to us that Finland and Sweden join NATO hand in hand,” Marin said at a joint news conference in Helsinki with his Swedish counterpart.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on October 6 that his country is still opposed to Sweden’s candidacy.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who took office last week, said: “We have taken every step, so far, hand in hand and none of us has other ambitions.”

Kristersson said he will meet Erdogan soon. “It is absolutely legitimate for Turkey to have confirmation that Sweden is doing what it has committed to do under the agreement,” he added.

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet quoted sources as saying Turkey had invited Kristersson to a bilateral meeting in Ankara, likely on November 8.

Kristersson’s spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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