U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraged Ankara to support Sweden in its bid to join NATO in a meeting with new Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson said.
Turkey has objected to Sweden's bid to join the Western military alliance, citing security concerns, but members of the bloc have expressed hope that it will become a member in time for a mid-July summit in Vilnius.
In a meeting with Fidan on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Summit in London, Blinken stressed the importance of NATO unity at a critical time, spokesperson Matthew Miller said.Blinken welcomed Ankara's support for Kyiv and its work on the grain deal, which allows Ukrainian exports from Black Sea ports, the spokesperson said.Sweden's accession to the bloc.
Finland joined NATO in April but Turkey continues to block Sweden's membership. Last week President Tayyip Erdogan said it should not expect a green light from Ankara at the summit unless it preventsTurkey says Sweden harbours members of militant groups it considers to be terrorists. Sweden recently introduced a new law to make it harder to finance or support terrorist groups.Sweden's bid because Stockholm has now met its obligations under a deal with Ankara.
Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever in Ankara and Rami Ayyub in Washington; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Ali Kucukgocmen and Christina Fincher
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Blinken faces online backlash for saying US opposes 'Taiwan independence' from China: 'Bought and paid for'Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's comments on the American relationship with Taiwan caused a stir on Twitter.
Read more »
Blinken ruffles feathers by stating US ‘does not support Taiwan independence’ after meeting China’s XiSecretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said the US “does not support Taiwan independence” after a meeting with Beijing officials including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Read more »
Olive branch? Blinken strikes conciliatory tone in ChinaIf China was waiting for an olive branch from the Biden administration, Secretary of State Antony Blinken seemed to deliver one Monday.
Read more »
Republicans say Biden 'appeasing' China with Blinken trip to BeijingRepublicans are using Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Beijing to portray the Biden administration as weak on China, framing the attempted diplomatic reset as tantamount to appeasement.
Read more »
Blinken urges China's vigilance on its firms providing tech to RussiaU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday he had asked China's government to be vigilant about private companies that may be providing Russia with technology that could be used against Ukraine, although he said he had seen no evidence Beijing is providing lethal assistance to Moscow.
Read more »
Blinken 'actively talking' about three Americans detained in China - CBS NewsU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday the United States and China were continuing to discuss the release of three U.S. citizens who are detained in China.
Read more »