Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with EU chief Charles Michel, after Ankara linked Sweden’s NATO membership to Turkey’s EU aspirations.
Erdogan meets EU chief: Earlier, Erdogan disrupted the plans for the NATO summit in Vilnius by stating that he would only back Sweden’s bid for membership in the Western alliance if the European Union members, who are also NATO allies, agreed to reopen Turkey’s accession talks with the EU.
In an effort to convince Ankara to relax its year-long embargo on Stockholm, the Turkish leader met with Swedish Premier Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Vilnius.
According to diplomats, Erdogan and Michel met, resulting in the postponement of the meeting.
Additionally, It was unclear what Michel, who leads the organisation that speaks for the 27 leaders of the EU, could give Erdogan to help end the impasse.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is a major player in NATO and the EU, stated that the protracted EU membership process of Ankara has no connection with Stockholm’s bid to join the alliance.