Sweden May Join NATO Upon Meeting Obligations, Says Turkey's Defense Minister

Turkey's newly appointed Defense Minister, Yaşar Güler, has stated that Sweden will join NATO if it fulfills its obligations outlined in the Madrid declaration regarding the fight against terrorism.

According to Turkish broadcaster TRT, Güler made the remarks today, informing his counterparts about Ankara's position at the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels held the day before.

“We have expressed our support for NATO's open door policy during meetings with Stockholm and noted that Sweden, similar to Finland, can join the alliance if it meets the obligations undertaken,” said the minister.

Turkey, Sweden, and Finland signed a trilateral memorandum in Madrid on June 28 of last year, agreeing that the two Scandinavian countries would enhance their efforts against terrorism, extradite individuals considered criminals in Turkey, refrain from supporting Kurdish separatists, and followers of religious leader Fethullah Gülen. In return, Turkey would not oppose NATO membership for the two Scandinavian countries.

Finland officially joined the North Atlantic Alliance on April 4 of this year.