Media: Turkey cancels meeting on northern NATO expansion

Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on Tuesday spoke of the possibility of a pause in Finnish-Swedish-Turkish talks given the recent tensions with Ankara. A next meeting will probably be delayed by weeks, he said. According to observers, this could also have something to do with the May 14 elections in which Erdogan is seeking another term.

Kristersson crowded

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson pointed out on Tuesday the importance of speedy accession to NATO. No question is more important for national security, Kristersson said on Tuesday evening at a short-term press conference in Stockholm. Everyone in the country should recognize the seriousness of the situation. Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom added that Sweden was in the most uncertain security situation since World War II.

Kristersson said it was legitimate that there were different opinions about NATO membership. However, a large majority in both Sweden and Finland decided that both countries should join NATO. Provocateurs now tried to worsen Sweden’s relations with other countries and thus the prospects of accession.