VILNIUS: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with EU chief Charles Michel on the eve of a NATO summit in Vilnius, according to diplomats. The meeting comes after Turkey linked Sweden’s NATO membership to its ambitions of joining the European Union (EU).
Prior to the NATO summit, Erdogan created a stir by stating that he would support Sweden’s candidacy for NATO only if EU member states, many of whom are also NATO allies, agree to revive Turkey’s EU accession negotiations.
Erdogan engaged in discussions with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Premier Ulf Kristersson in Vilnius in an effort to persuade Ankara to lift its year-long blockade on Stockholm.
Erdogan’s Condition to Support Sweden’s NATO Bid
Following these talks, Erdogan met with European Council head Charles Michel. The nature of the discussions and the potential offers made by Michel, who represents the EU’s 27 leaders, to break the impasse between Turkey and Sweden remain unclear.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a prominent figure in both the EU and NATO, has emphasized that there is no connection between Sweden’s pursuit of NATO membership and Turkey’s long-stalled EU application.
The discussions between Erdogan and Michel highlight the complex dynamics surrounding Turkey’s relationship with both NATO and the EU. The outcome of these talks could have significant implications for Sweden’s bid to join NATO and Turkey’s aspirations for EU membership.
