Following today’s meeting with President Erdogan and President Niinistö, under the auspices of NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, the foreign ministers of Sweden, Finland and Türkiye signed a trilateral memorandum, paving the way for Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to NATO.
The memorandum confirms Türkiye’s support for our NATO applications. It covers issues raised by Türkiye in this context. One part of the memorandum refers to actions which Sweden is undertaking, such as the strengthening of our counterterrorism legislation. Another part includes steps which we will take as part of the process of becoming a NATO member. One example is the adjustment of the guidelines of arms exports. In the memorandum, there is also a clear joint commitment concerning the fight against terrorism, not least as regards PKK. In this area, we agreed with Türkiye to strengthen our cooperation and to establish a closer dialogue, including on extradition issues. This will of course be conducted within the framework of national and international legislation.
With today’s agreement, Sweden is now on a clear path to become a NATO member. I look forward to constructive discussions during the Madrid Summit on our future cooperation within NATO and the contribution Sweden will make to the security of all Allies.
