Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged Turkey to take immediate action on Sweden’s bid to join NATO, saying there was no reason for further delay in bolstering the trans-Atlantic alliance at a time of profound tension with Russia.
LULEA, Sweden — Blinken, speaking to reporters in northern Sweden, pointed to the strength of Swedish armed forces and the country’s history of close partnership with NATO, even before it became a candidate for membership in the alliance last year. While NATO membersthis spring, Turkey and Hungary have so far declined to ratify Sweden’s membership.
, who overcame a major opposition challenge to win another five-year term. U.S. officials have said they expect Hungary to ratify once Turkey does.
Blinken said the administration had not connected its advocacy for Sweden’s NATO accession to the potential agreement to sell Turkeyfor Ankara’s existing jets. But he acknowledged that some in the U.S. Congress had made an explicit link, suggesting they would only support the administration’s proposal if Turkey relents on Sweden.
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