ANKARA: Turkiye and Sweden will hold their first meeting on Wednesday addressing a security pact the sides agreed to ensure Ankara’s approval of Stockholm’s NATO membership bid, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Tuesday.
The meeting will take place during a visit to Ankara by Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, and it carried “special importance” in terms of improving cooperation on terrorism, the source said.
Turkiye approved Sweden’s bid to join the military alliance in January after a more than year-long delay over concerns about Sweden’s stance on groups and individuals it deems terrorists, and over an arms embargo that Stockholm later lifted.
As part of the approval, Ankara demanded that Stockholm amend anti-terrorism laws and crack down on members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) — also labelled a terrorist group by the United States and European Union — as well as a group it accuses of orchestrating a 2016 failed putsch.
The formation of the “Security Compact” was agreed by NATO’s then-chief Jens Stoltenberg and Turkish and Swedish leaders at an alliance summit in 2023. The parties had also agreed that Stockholm would present a “roadmap” on counter-terrorism.
Sweden joined NATO in March.
“Cooperation in the field of security, especially the fight against terrorism, will be discussed within the framework of the road map,” the source said, adding that the talks aimed to pave the way for additional steps on the PKK and its Syrian offshoots, as well others.
Turkiye’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, and Stenergard will also discuss bilateral ties during the meetings, the source added.
Turkiye, Sweden to hold first security talks since NATO entry
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Turkiye, Sweden to hold first security talks since NATO entry
- The meeting will take place during a visit to Ankara by Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard
UK welcomes calls for dialogue on southern Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s offer to host talks
- Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it would host a conference in Riyadh at the request of President Al-Alimi
LONDON: The UK on Sunday welcomed calls by Yemen’s presidential council leader Rashad Al-Alimi for dialogue to address ongoing issues in the south of the country, stressing that a diplomatic solution is the best path forward.
Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it would host a conference in Riyadh at the request of Al-Alimi.
Britain’s minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, said the UK supported efforts aimed at de-escalation and political engagement.
“The UK welcomes calls by Yemen’s President for a dialogue addressing issues in the south of the country,” Falconer said in a post on X.
“I also welcome Saudi Arabia’s offer to host a conference and the UAE’s calls for de-escalation. A swift diplomatic resolution will best serve the Yemeni people,” he added.
The Kingdom has urged all factions to participate in the talks “to develop a comprehensive vision” that would fulfil the aspirations of the southern people.
The initiative has received broad regional and international backing, including support from the Southern Transitional Council, which recently seized territory in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra.
