Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Sirens sound in northern Golan Heights amid fears of drone infiltration
Iran's IRGC statement No. 6: The technologies and capabilities used in this operation enabled it to successfully and accurately hit its targets in the entity
Iran's IRGC statement No. 6: We launched a new wave of missile attacks moments ago, stronger and more destructive than previous launches
Spain's FM: I see no sogn of de-escalation between 'Israel' and Iran
Spain's Foreign Minister: EU must impose an arms embargo on 'Israel' as long as this war lasts
Israeli media: The facility is used for all logistical activities of the Israeli military intelligence division
Israeli media: Based on an analysis of one of the photos published by a media outlet, it can be said that it shows the location of the attack on a large warehouse or logistics facility
The sixth statement of the Iranian Revolution Guard Corps on Operation True Promise 3: We will continue our effective, powerful, and destructive operations against the entity's vital targets
Israeli media: Military censorship has imposed a blackout on the location recently targeted and struck by Iranian missiles in the Glilot area
Iranian missile destroyed a building in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv

Swedish PM says ready to visit Turkey to unblock NATO bid

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Oct 2022 19:12
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The Swedish PM says he aims to show the Turkish President that Sweden and Finland fulfill the promises they made to Turkey in order to join NATO.

  • x
  • Sweden's new Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (AFP)
    Sweden's new Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (AFP)

Sweden's new Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson indicated on Thursday that he was ready to head to Ankara to urge Turkey to back bids by Sweden and Finland to join the NATO alliance.

"I have already sent a signal to the Turkish government that we are prepared to go to Ankara immediately," Kristersson said, as he arrived for an EU leaders' summit three days after taking office.

"I will do that as soon as it is suitable for them as well of course, so I'm very prepared for that," he added.

Kristersson pointed out that he aimed to show Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Sweden and Finland "actually do what we promised" to fulfill a deal with Ankara to clear their path into NATO.

Earlier this year, Sweden and Finland tore up their long-standing policies of non-alignment amid the war in Ukraine and launched their bids to join the US-led military alliance. 

The move has received strong backing from the vast majority of the alliance's members, but Erdogan has stalled the process over accusations that the Nordic neighbors are havens for Kurdish militants hostile to Ankara.  

Twenty-eight of NATO's 30 allies have so far ratified the accession of Finland and Sweden, leaving only Turkey and Hungary to sign off before they officially join the group.

Erdogan freezes Sweden, Finland NATO bid 'till promises are met'

Related News

Turkey to boost missile arsenal, reinforce deterrence: Erdogan

Russia, Turkey decry Israeli aggression on Iran, offer mediation

On October 1, Erdogan affirmed that Turkey will continue to freeze Sweden and Finland's bids for NATO membership until the promises made by the two Nordic countries are "kept".  

"Until the promises made to our country are kept, we will maintain our principled position," Erdogan said in a speech to parliament in Ankara.

What were the promises?

On June 28, the two Nordic countries signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding with Turkey in which they pledged to address Ankara’s concerns over their stance toward the PKK, YPG, and the Gulen movements.

In the memorandum, the two Nordic countries had agreed to lift their embargoes on weapons deliveries to Turkey, which were imposed in response to Ankara's 2019 military incursion into Syria.

Erdogan's office confirmed in late June that Finland and Sweden agreed to abandon "the embargo in the field of the military-industrial complex" of Turkey, adding that the two countries agreed to amend their national legislation "in the field of counter-terrorism and the defense industry."

One request vs. a long list of conditions
While #Turkey had a long list of conditions from #Finland and #Sweden, all the two Nordic states wanted was to join #NATO.
Here's your guide to understanding on what basis the agreement was made. pic.twitter.com/Aw7Jtu7frp

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 28, 2022

Finland and Sweden will also ban "fundraising and recruitment activities" for the Kurdish militants and "prevent terrorist propaganda against Turkey," Erdogan's office said.

The statement mentioned that the two Nordic countries also agreed to cooperate with Turkey on the deportation and extradition of "terrorism suspects".

Turkey announced on July 21 the establishment of a "permanent committee" to meet with Finnish and Swedish officials in August and review whether the two countries are meeting Ankara's conditions for ratifying their NATO membership aspirations.

Read more: Far-right will back Sweden's new right-wing government

  • Turkey
  • Nato
  • Finland
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Sweden
  • Ulf Kristersson
  • Ankara

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • Today

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Smoke rises from an oil storage facility after it appeared to have been struck by an Israeli strike on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah, regional media authorities condemn Israeli IRIB bombing

The trace of a projectile is seen before hitting Tel Aviv, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' bans foreign journalists from covering Haifa oil refinery

In this Dec. 23, 2019 file photo released by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, technicians work at the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit near Arak, Iran (AEOI)
Politics

Iran signals no new concessions in nuclear talks with US, WSJ reports

An IRIB correspondent reporting live after the broadcaster's headquarters were struck by Israeli airstrikes, Tehran, June 16, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Following blatant threats, 'Israel' bombs Iran's state broadcaster

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS