NATO issue: Blinken confident of consensus on Sweden, Finland

1
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. STORY: Blinken confident of consensus on Sweden, Finland

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a news conference on the day of the Informal Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Berlin, Germany, May 15, 2022. (REUTERS/Michele Tantussi)

BERLIN — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken to his Turkish counterpart on Ankara’s concerns regarding Sweden and Finland’s entry into NATO and that after Sunday’s meeting of foreign ministers he was confident a consensus could be reached.

“I don’t want to characterize the specific conversation that we had either with the foreign minister or within the NATO sessions themselves, but I can say this much: I heard almost across the board, very strong support (for Sweden, Finland) joining the alliance,” he told reporters after a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Berlin.

“If that’s what they choose to do, I’m very confident that we will reach a consensus on that.

RELATED STORIES

Finland, Sweden already at heart NATO members – Germany’s Baerbock

Putin tells Finland that swapping neutrality for Nato is a mistake

Greece says ready to welcome Finland, Sweden in Nato

Read more...