Description
Added on the 28/06/2022 21:11:09 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
The US's top diplomat has said the “time is now” for Turkey to back Sweden's NATO membership bid.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a visit to Turkey has repeats Washington’s support for Sweden and Finland’s quick accession to NATO.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters in Stockholm that it's "in everyone's interest" that the Nordic neighbours join NATO together.
Ankara says Finland's NATO bid is "less problematic" than Sweden's after Turkey accused the government in Stockholm of enabling groups it deems as terror organisations. But Finland's FM says it is important for both countries to join the alliance at the same time.
The hold-up follows Ankara announcing it would not back Sweden's NATO bid following an anti-Turkey protest in Stockholm. Finland, it seems, is reassessing its options but still insist joining with Sweden is the number one option.
Following the Hamas militant group's 7 October attacks and Israel's subsequent ground offensive in Gaza, there have been apparent reprisals against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.