Sweden Hopes NATO Approval Comes After Elections

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said he hopes his country's NATO approval by Turkey will come after parliamentary and presidential elections in May.

Kristersson disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking in a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

And on his part, Scholz added that the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO was critical "for our security."

Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto also said he expects Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to confirm approval for his country’s NATO accession.

Both will meet in Ankara later this week.

Niinisto will be in Turkey on Thursday for a two-day visit. He is invited by Erdoğan.

To approve Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bids, Turkey demands the two countries take action against terrorist groups.

All other members of NATO have agreed for both countries to join, except for Turkey and Hungary. And to join the NATO alliance, all member countries must agree.