Vilnius (dpa) – Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed Sweden’s expected entry into NATO after Turkey dropped its opposition. “At long last the way is clear for Turkey to ratify Sweden’s membership of NATO,” Baerbock wrote on Twitter. “Our joint efforts have paid off. With 32 of us, we’re safer together. Congratulations, Sweden!”
Shortly before the beginning of the NATO summit in Lithuania, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had met with Swedish Premier Ulf Kristersson and agreed to present the accession protocol to the Turkish parliament at the earliest opportunity. It is not yet clear when Sweden will join the alliance.
The two-day NATO summit in Lithuania will focus on discussing ongoing support for Ukraine and expanding defence and deterrence against Russia. Secretary General Stoltenberg wants the summit to send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz was among those who travelled to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, while US President Joe Biden and the other NATO heads of state and government are expected to arrive. The leaders’ agenda includes discussing closer cooperation with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.