Today, June 4, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, said that Sweden has fulfilled all the requirements put forward by Turkey in accordance with the tripartite memorandum and now has the full right to join the North Atlantic Alliance. This statement was made following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Sweden has fulfilled its obligations. Concrete steps were taken and laws changed. I acknowledge that the demonstrations in Sweden created difficulties. Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression must be protected and respected. But the organizers of these demonstrations are trying to prevent Sweden from joining NATO.”Stoltenberg noted. He also acknowledged that the protests in Sweden could create some difficulties.

Stoltenberg said that during today's meeting with President Erdogan, it was decided to hold the next meeting of the Permanent Joint Mechanism with Sweden on June 12. The Secretary General added that Turkey has time to ratify Sweden's application to join the alliance before the NATO summit in Vilnius.

It should be noted that Sweden's accession to NATO can significantly change the military-political situation in the region, and this topic has been discussed in the international arena for a long time. If Turkey ratifies Sweden's application, the country will become a full-fledged member of the North Atlantic Alliance.