Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (right) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Lulea, Sweden, on May 30.
Sweden applied to join NATO last year after the Ukraine-Russia conflict erupted. Objections from Türkiye and Hungary have delayed Sweden’s accession to the alliance, and Stockholm now hopes the process can be completed before a NATO summit in Lithuania next month.
" The government has decided that the Swedish Armed Forces can carry out preparations with NATO and NATO countries for joint operations in the future," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Defense Minister Pal Jonson said in an article published in the Dagens Nyheter daily on June 9, according to Reuters.
"Preparations may include the establishment of temporary bases for foreign equipment and personnel on Swedish territory. This decision sends a clear signal to Russia and strengthens Sweden's defense capabilities," the article said.
Norwegian Foreign Minister: Russia has no right to decide on Ukraine's NATO membership
They say Russia will remain a threat to its neighbours for the foreseeable future and Stockholm is uncertain about the extent of Russian President Vladimir Putin's territorial ambitions.
Finland, another Nordic country with a long border with Russia, joined NATO in April. Finland and Sweden applied at the same time, but Helsinki was eventually admitted first. Any new member requires the consent of all current NATO members.
Turkey has not agreed to Sweden's accession partly because it believes the Nordic country harbors members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara, the United States and the European Union (EU) consider a terrorist group.
In a notable development, Swedish parks on June 9 prosecuted a man suspected of gun crimes as well as donating money to the PKK, according to Reuters.
Talks between Ankara and Stockholm on joining NATO are expected to restart next week, Reuters reported.
In a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on June 8, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need to admit Sweden into NATO as soon as possible.
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