Turkey backs Sweden’s Nato membership

Turkey has agreed to support Sweden’s bid to join Nato, the Norwegian Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg has said. 

He said Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would forward Sweden’s bid to parliament in Ankara and “ensure ratification.” 

Sweden’s PM Ulf Kristersson said: “I am very happy, it is a good day for Sweden.”

Turkey had spent months blocking Sweden’s application to the military alliance, accusing the country of hosting Kurdish militants. 

Turkey – one of Nato’s 31 members, has a veto over any new country joining the group. 

PM Rishi Sunak said Sweden joining would “make us all safer,” whilst the German FM Annalena Baerbock tweeted: “At 32, we’re all safer together.”