World News | U.S. urges Turkey to ‘swiftly’ approve Sweden’s NATO membership

washington [US]March 18 (ANI): The United States welcomed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision after Turkey ratified Finland’s NATO accession process, saying it encouraged Ankara to “also speed up Ratify Sweden’s Accession Agreement”.

In a statement released by the White House, national security adviser Jack Sullivan said, “The United States welcomes President Erdogan’s announcement that he will bring Finland’s NATO accession agreement to the Turkish parliament and looks forward to the swift conclusion of this process.”

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“We encourage Turkey to also ratify Sweden’s accession agreement as soon as possible. Furthermore, we urge Hungary to complete the ratification process for Finland and Sweden without delay,” he added.

Sullivan further stated in the statement that both countries, Sweden and Finland, are strong and capable partners who share NATO values ​​and will strengthen the alliance and contribute to European security.

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“The United States believes that both countries should join NATO as soon as possible,” the statement read.

Earlier, Turkey approved Finland’s NATO membership procedure.

According to Anadolu News Agency, President Erdogan pointed out at a joint press conference in Ankara with Finnish President Saulin Nisto that Finland has resolved all security issues in Turkey.

“We have decided to start the process of ratifying Finland’s NATO accession protocol in parliament,” Erdogan told a news conference.

Citing talks at the NATO Madrid summit in June 2022 on the joining bids of Sweden and Finland, Erdogan said Turkey was one of the staunch defenders of NATO’s open-door policy.

According to Anadolu Agency, the president further stated that Turkey has seen that Finland has taken concrete steps to fulfill its commitments in the tripartite memorandum signed at the Madrid summit last June.

Erdogan added: “NATO will become stronger with Finland’s accession, and I believe it will play an active role in maintaining global security and stability.”

He further emphasized that after the completion of the ratification process, Turkey-Finland relations will be strengthened on the basis of the NATO alliance.

Regarding the process in Sweden, Erdogan said that Turkey will continue negotiations based on the principles of the alliance and our approach to fighting terrorism.

He added: “I believe that the principles and goodwill of our country in the process of advancing (joining NATO) are now more clearly visible.” (Ani)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)