U.S. to Turkey: It’s time for Sweden to join NATO

LULEA, Sweden — Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Turkey on Tuesday to take immediate action on Sweden’s bid to join NATO, saying there was no reason for further delay in bolstering the transatlantic alliance at a time of profound tension with Russia.

Blinken, speaking to reporters in northern Sweden, pointed to the strength of the Swedish armed forces and the country’s history of close partnership with NATO, even before it became a candidate for membership in the alliance last year. While NATO members cemented the accession of neighboring Finland this spring, Turkey and Hungary have so far declined to ratify Sweden’s membership.