Turkish President Erdogan holds meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg

The two leaders discussed various matters on the agenda for the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius, including crucial issues such as support to Ukraine, strengthening deterrence and defense measures, and the ongoing fight against terrorism.

During the meeting, Stoltenberg commended Türkiye, highlighting its valuable contributions of troops to NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. He expressed gratitude for Türkiye's prompt reinforcement efforts following the recent unrest in northern Kosovo. Additionally, Stoltenberg thanked Türkiye for its significant role in NATO's training program for Iraqi forces, as well as its pre-assignment of troops to the multinational battlegroup in Hungary. He also acknowledged Türkiye's unwavering support to Ukraine, specifically mentioning its leadership of the Black Sea grain initiative.

The Secretary General took the opportunity to congratulate President Erdogan on his recent re-election and praised the high voter turnout among the Turkish people. The leaders engaged in discussions regarding a wide range of topics set to be addressed at the upcoming summit, underscoring the importance of NATO's support to Ukraine, efforts to enhance deterrence and defense capabilities, and the joint fight against terrorism.

The conversation also touched upon Sweden's bid for NATO membership. Stoltenberg acknowledged the considerable strides taken by Stockholm to address Türkiye's concerns, citing amendments made to the Swedish constitution, the lifting of the arms embargo, and increased cooperation in counter-terrorism measures, including those against the PKK. He further mentioned the recent implementation of crucial anti-terrorism legislation in Sweden, emphasizing that the country had fulfilled its obligations. Stoltenberg expressed concern over demonstrations against Türkiye and NATO in Sweden, asserting that the organizers should not succeed in impeding counter-terrorism cooperation or preventing Sweden from joining the Alliance.

Both leaders agreed on the importance of the Permanent Joint Mechanism involving Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden and decided that it should reconvene in the week commencing June 12. Stoltenberg eagerly anticipated finalizing Sweden's accession to NATO as soon as possible, indicating a positive stance towards Sweden's membership bid.

On Saturday, Secretary General Stoltenberg attended President Erdogan's inauguration ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, alongside numerous other world leaders, further emphasizing the significance of the diplomatic ties between NATO and Türkiye. (ILKHA)