British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Getty
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Getty
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Getty
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Getty

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UK's Cleverly to renew backing for Sweden's Nato accession

British support comes amid objections from Turkey that have slowed down the process for Swedish membership

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

June 26, 2023

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British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is set to visit Sweden this week, where he will renew UK backing for the country’s bid to join Nato.

Accession “must happen as soon as possible” to “make us all safer”, Mr Cleverly said before travelling to Gotland, a strategically important island 320km north of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad, a semi-exclave, is home to Russia’s Baltic Fleet.

Objections from Turkey have slowed down the process for Swedish membership.

Turkey’s government claims Sweden has been lenient towards groups it says pose a security threat, including militant Kurdish groups and others linked to a 2016 coup attempt.

Nato wants to bring Sweden into the fold by the time the leaders of member nations meet for a summit in Lithuania in July.

During his visit, Mr Cleverly will meet Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom and hold a discussion on European security as part of Almedalen Week, an annual event on Gotland.

A look at the Nato military alliance - in pictures

A solemn welcoming ceremony of US soldiers at Adazi military base, Latvia, on February 25, 2022. More than 300 soldiers of the 173rd Air Force Brigade arrived to demonstrate the US commitment to defend Nato allies and strengthen Latvia's defence capabilities following Russia's military operation in Ukraine. EPA
A solemn welcoming ceremony of US soldiers at Adazi military base, Latvia, on February 25, 2022. More than 300 soldiers of the 173rd Air Force Brigade arrived to demonstrate the US commitment to defend Nato allies and strengthen Latvia's defence capabilities following Russia's military operation in Ukraine. EPA
US paratroopers in Ukraine's western Lviv region during a Nato-sponsored training exercise in 2020. AP
US paratroopers in Ukraine's western Lviv region during a Nato-sponsored training exercise in 2020. AP
A US military aircraft takes off at the US Air Base Ramstein, in Landstuhl, Germany, on February 25. US President Joe Biden February 24 authorised the deployment of further armed forces to Germany as part of Nato's response to Russia's military aggression on Ukraine. EPA
A US military aircraft takes off at the US Air Base Ramstein, in Landstuhl, Germany, on February 25. US President Joe Biden February 24 authorised the deployment of further armed forces to Germany as part of Nato's response to Russia's military aggression on Ukraine. EPA
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on February 25. EPA
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on February 25. EPA
A convoy of British armoured vehicles of the Royal Welsh Battlegroup on the way to Estonia, driving through Liepupe, Latvia, on February 25. British troops and equipment are heading to Estonia as part of the UK's contribution to strengthen Nato's uplift to Eastern Europe. EPA
A convoy of British armoured vehicles of the Royal Welsh Battlegroup on the way to Estonia, driving through Liepupe, Latvia, on February 25. British troops and equipment are heading to Estonia as part of the UK's contribution to strengthen Nato's uplift to Eastern Europe. EPA
Protesters outside a Nato leaders virtual summit in Brussels on February 25. AP
Protesters outside a Nato leaders virtual summit in Brussels on February 25. AP
A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender aircraft over Poland on February 24. US Air Force/Reuters
A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender aircraft over Poland on February 24. US Air Force/Reuters
US military personnel check an Apache attack helicopter AH-64 during a technical stop on the tarmac at Traian Vuia International Airport in Timisoara, Romania, on February 24. EPA
US military personnel check an Apache attack helicopter AH-64 during a technical stop on the tarmac at Traian Vuia International Airport in Timisoara, Romania, on February 24. EPA
German soldiers of the Nato enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania attend a ceremony during a visit of German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht to Rukla Military Base, Lithuania, on February 22. EPA
German soldiers of the Nato enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania attend a ceremony during a visit of German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht to Rukla Military Base, Lithuania, on February 22. EPA

“The UK and Sweden relationship goes back over a thousand years and plays an ever more pivotal role in European security today," Mr Cleverly said before the trip.

“My message to our Swedish friends is clear: the UK is doing all that we can to support their accession to Nato, which must happen as soon as possible to bolster our defences and make us all safer.”

He will also meet Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson to discuss strengthening co-operation, including through joint exercises and training between the countries’ armed forces.

Sweden and Finland applied to join Nato together after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.

Finland became the 31st member of the military alliance in April after the Turkish Parliament ratified its request.

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