NATO chief in Turkey, urges swift ratification of Sweden, Finland memberships

In Ankara, NATO chief made first visit after the earthquake, and pressed for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance together.
ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (L) give a joint news conference following talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 16, 2023. - ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images
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Ezgi Akin
@ezgi_akin

ANKARA — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated on Thursday during his visit to Turkey that Finland and Sweden should join the alliance together.

Speaking in Ankara, Stoltenberg extended his condolences to Turkey after two devastating earthquakes that claimed more than 36,000 lives, injuring more than 108,000, but also urged for ratification of the Nordic enlargement “as soon as possible.”

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