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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces bombing the Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect
The Kremlin: Negotiations toward a settlement in Ukraine are currently at a complete standstill
Abu Mujahid: The steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the Resistance thwarted the displacement plan and allowed us to secure the best possible terms in an agreement to halt the genocidal war
Abu Mujahid: We salute whosoever made sacrifices in support of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the martyred Sayyed Nasrallah and Sayyed Safieddine, as well as the people of Yemen and Iran
Abu Mujahid, head of the media office of the Popular Resistance Committees, to Al Mayadeen: The people of Gaza have sacrificed and given their most precious offerings for the Al-Aqsa Flood
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli artillery shelling targeted Khan Younis and the al-Bureij and al-Maghazi refugee camps
Captives may be released as early as Saturday and by Monday at the latest: Source briefed on the details of the agreement.
Netanyahu set to convene security cabinet at 1500 (1200GMT) and government at 1600 (1300GMT) to approve the deal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement
Within the first 24 hours, the Israeli military will complete the first phase of partial withdrawal: Source briefed on the details of the agreement

Turkey says will not be pressured over Sweden's NATO bid

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Jul 2023 16:00
3 Min Read

Ratification is being delayed by Turkey and fellow NATO member Hungary due to several separate disputes with both Stockholm and Brussels.

  • x
  • Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a news conference (AFP/Getty Images)
    Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a news conference (AFP/Getty Images)

Turkey warned Tuesday it will not be pressured into backing Sweden's bid to join NATO and said it was still considering whether the Nordic country's entry would benefit or hurt the alliance.

The remarks were made by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan just two days before he was due to meet with his Swedish counterpart in Brussels to tackle Stockholm's attempt to become the 32nd member of the US-led military alliance.

NATO hopes to welcome Sweden by the time alliance leaders hold a summit in Lithuania on July 11-12.

However, ratification is being delayed by Turkey and fellow NATO member Hungary due to several separate disagreements with both Stockholm and Brussels.

"We never approve of the use of time pressure as a method," Fidan told a televised press conference.

It is worth noting that unanimous approval from current members is required for new countries to join the bloc.

Ankara has been recently frustrated by decisions by the Stockholm police to grant permits for citizens to burn a copy of the Holy Quran book outside the Turkish embassy and mosques.

Related News

Kosovo receives Turkish kamikaze drones, Serbia condemns move

SDC condemns Turkish occupation of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad

Read next: Turkish FM condemns acts of Quran Desecration in Sweden

Talks on Sweden's accession to NATO have been stalling since the burning of the Quran took place near Turkey's embassy in Sweden earlier this year. 

On June 7, Fidan said Sweden must take concrete steps to join the NATO alliance.

"Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had a phone conversation with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom. During the talk, he congratulated his colleague Minister Fidan on his new appointment. Minister Fidan also stressed that concrete steps must be taken for Sweden to join NATO," a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry read on June 7. 

The statement added that both ministers convened on the restoring of dialogue following a meeting of the Standing Joint Mechanism on Sweden's NATO membership.

At the same time, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Turkey, Sweden, Finland, and NATO will be holding a meeting in Brussels to discuss Sweden's ascension to NATO. 

"We agreed to convene a new meeting of Finland, Sweden, Turkey, and NATO. This meeting will take place in Brussels next week. I will chair the meeting and it will be a high-level meeting with the foreign ministers, the chiefs of intelligence, and national security advisers. And the purpose of that meeting is, of course, to make progress so we can have a positive decision at the Vilnius summit on Swedish membership," Stoltenberg said. 

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year, citing changes in the European security picture because of the war in Ukraine. As Finland went on to become a member, Turkey, and Hungary stymied Sweden's bid, with Budapest citing grievances over Stockholm's criticism of Hungary's Prime Minister and Ankara accusing Sweden of harboring what it considers Kurdish terrorists and, most recently, meddling in Turkish elections and the desecration of the Quran.

Read next: Sweden must take concrete steps to Join NATO: Turkey FM

  • Turkey
  • Nato
  • Sweden
  • Nato Alliance
  • Nato bid

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Mistrust paralyzes Washington as shutdown drags on for 9th day

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean
Politics

Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s military power in Caribbean

ap
Politics

UN to slash peacekeeping operations as US funding cuts take effect

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, right, applauds after delivering a speech at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Politics

Spain passes decree formalizing full arms embargo on 'Israel'

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