Tobias Billstrom

New Swedish FM to visit Türkiye in 1st foreign trip: State TV

Swedish state television SVT has announced that newly appointed Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard will make her first foreign trip to Türkiye on Sept. 18.

Tobias Billström's unexpected resignation last week prompted the reshuffle, which saw several key ministers reassigned. Stenergar previously served as migration minister.

Sweden says Türkiye promised NATO approval 'within weeks'

Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said yesterday his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, had promised that Ankara would approve Stockholm's membership of NATO "within weeks."

Türkiye and Hungary are the only NATO members yet to ratify Sweden's bid, more than 18 months after it applied for membership.

Sweden welcomes start of NATO process by Turkey’s parliament

Sweden on Tuesday welcomed a decision by the foreign affairs commission of Turkey's parliament to debate on Thursday a bill approving NATO membership for Stockholm.

"That is welcome information," Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in a text to Reuters. Sweden looks forward to being a member of NATO." [Reuters]

Turkey urges Sweden to take steps to stop Koran burnings

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday urged Sweden to take concrete steps to prevent burnings of the Koran, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.

Sweden and Denmark have seen several protests in recent weeks where copies of the Koran have been damaged or burned, causing outrage among Muslims. Sweden's embassy in Baghdad was stormed and set ablaze by angry protesters.

Türkiye urges Sweden for concrete steps on NATO bid

Alamy Photo

With around a month left for NATO critical leaders' summit scheduled to take place in Vilnius, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has spoken over the phone with his Swedish and American counterparts separately to reiterate that Türkiye expects Sweden to take concrete steps in line with the trilateral agreement if it wants to join the alliance.

Swedish foreign minister to meet Turkish counterpart for NATO discussion

Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom will meet his Turkish counterpart this week to discuss Sweden's delayed NATO accession process, he told a broadcaster on Monday.

Billstrom said he had contacted Mevlut Cavusoglu to congratulate President Tayyip Erdogan on his victory in the presidential election over the weekend.

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