Media: Stoltenberg called for Sweden to be admitted to NATO by the end of November

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last week sent a letter to NATO member countries calling for Sweden to be accepted into NATO by the end of November. About it reported Bloomberg agency, citing a Swedish government representative.

Stoltenberg also clarified the dates by which Sweden should become a NATO member. According to him, this should happen no later than the meeting of the alliance’s foreign minister, which will take place on November 28-29.

Sweden asked for NATO membership in May 2022 amid a special operation in Ukraine. At approximately the same time, Finland announced its intention to join the North Atlantic Alliance and was accepted into the military bloc in April 2023.

Initially, it was assumed that Sweden and Finland would be admitted to NATO at the same time, but Sweden’s accession was blocked by Turkey, which demanded that Stockholm fulfill its obligations to combat terrorism. Back in September, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saidthat the steps taken by Sweden to join the alliance are not enough. On October 23 he offered ratify the protocol on Sweden’s membership in the alliance.

Also, the agreement on admitting Sweden to NATO has not yet been ratified by Hungary. The country’s parliament has not yet scheduled a vote on this issue. According to the rules of the alliance, its expansion is possible only with the approval of new members by all existing members.