President Joe Biden is optimistic that Sweden’s NATO membership bid can be permitted, the White House stated Friday.
The U.S. has “been encouraging” dialogue between Sweden and Türkiye over Stockholm’s accession course of “to continue,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby informed reporters.
“As the president has said, he’s confident that the two nations will be able to come to an accord, and we’ll be able to welcome Sweden as the 32nd ally in NATO,” he stated.
“I couldn’t begin right now to give you like a timeframe of what that’s going to look like, when and under what circumstances, but the fact that they’re still talking is a good thing,” he added.
Finland and Sweden utilized for NATO membership quickly after Russia launched its battle in opposition to Ukraine in February 2022. Although Türkiye permitted Finland’s membership to NATO, it’s ready for Sweden to abide by a trilateral memorandum signed final June in Madrid to handle Ankara’s safety issues.
Several NATO allies, together with the U.S., hope Türkiye will approve Sweden’s ascension course of forward of a summit in Lithuania’s capital of Vilnius set for July 11-12.
Sweden handed an anti-terror regulation in November hoping Ankara would approve its bid to hitch NATO. The new regulation, efficient June 1, permits authorities to prosecute people who assist terror teams.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
