NATO: Swedish entry possible but not guaranteed

Stoltenberg answered questions from journalists ahead of the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting held at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Asked about the possibility of Sweden’s NATO membership catching up with the Vilnius Summit, Stoltenberg said that the Turkey-Swedish-Finnish Permanent Joint Mechanism meeting was held yesterday in Ankara and that It took place in a constructive environment.

Stoltenberg stated that Sweden fulfilled its commitments within the scope of the Tripartite Memorandum agreed at the Madrid Summit last year.

“Türkiye has legitimate security concerns. No ally has been as damaged by terrorism as Turkey,” Stoltenberg said of Sweden’s membership, “Sweden’s membership is possible until the Vilnius Summit, but I cannot guarantee it. We are working to ensure that Sweden’s participation is possible as soon as possible. On this occasion, I am satisfied with the meetings I had with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the meeting of the permanent mechanism this week.”

ENVIRONMENT TERM CONTINUED

Asked about last week’s visit to the United States and whether his term will be extended, Stoltenberg said they discussed the NATO Summit to be held on July 11-12 in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, and the issues of the agenda during your meeting. with US President Joe Biden in Washington.

“The 31 NATO allies will decide who will replace me,” Stoltenberg said. I am responsible for all but one of NATO’s decisions. That will be my future. 31 allies decide that.” saying.

Asked if he wanted an extension to his term, Stoltenberg said, “I have no intention of requesting an extension to my term.” he said.

Much has been made about who will replace Stoltenberg, whose term will expire in October 2023. Although many names have passed for this task, it is claimed that the name of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has come to light, and the possibility of extending Stoltenberg’s term again increases.

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg was appointed NATO Secretary General in 2014 and his term was extended three times. (AA)