British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will renew UK backing for Sweden’s bid to join NATO during a visit to the country this week.
Cleverly highlighted that the accession “must happen as soon as possible” to “make us all safer” ahead of travelling to Gotland.
During his visit, the UK official will meet Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom and hold a discussion on European security as part of Almedalen Week.
The Foreign Secretary will also meet Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson to discuss strengthening cooperation including through joint exercises and training between the countries’ armed forces.
Cleverly said: “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.”
Furthermore, he underlined that the UK and Sweden’s relationship goes back over a thousand years and plays an ever more pivotal role in European security today.
Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO together following Russia’s military operation in Ukraine last year.
Finland became the 31st member of the military alliance in April after the Turkish parliament ratified its request.
