British Foreign Secretary on Swedish NATO membership to Vilnius

British Foreign Secretary James Wise was in Almedalen on Tuesday and met Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) to discuss Sweden’s NATO application.

After the meeting, he wisely says that it is Britain’s hope to see the Swedish flag raised in Vilnius, and that it has previously been seen that states in NATO can move very quickly in recognizing new members.

– It is possible, we have to admit that it is very tight, but we will continue to try for full membership for Sweden in NATO as soon as possible, he tells SVT’s Aktuellt.

“Great Britain Talks With Turkey, Hungary”

Tobias Billström said he was satisfied with the meeting between the foreign ministers.

– Great to have a clear message from Great Britain about Sweden’s strong support for NATO membership.

And he says Great Britain is interested in Sweden becoming a member ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius starting on July 11.

– Tobias Billström says Great Britain is working towards this by talking to Turkey and Hungary, two countries which have not yet approved the Swedish NATO membership application.

Extraordinary meeting in Brussels next week

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called an extraordinary meeting on Sweden’s NATO application. The meeting will take place in Brussels next week and Sweden, Finland and Turkey have been invited to the meeting.

– The aim is to make progress towards completing Sweden’s entry into NATO, Stoltenberg said at a press conference on Monday.