On Friday, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said Sweden aims to join NATO by July’s Vilnius meeting.
Last year, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon military non-alignment and join NATO.
Turkey and Hungary have blocked Sweden’s NATO admission. Finland joined last month.
“No plan B. “Plan B is plan A—full NATO membership—and that is what the government and I will work for to Vilnius,” he told reporters.
On Sunday, incumbent Tayyip Erdogan leads the second round of a close presidential race in Turkey.
Billstrom believed Turkey’s parliament would ratify after the dust calmed.
“It is time for Turkey to start its ratification process and uphold its part of the bargain,” Billstrom added.
Last June in Madrid, Sweden and Finland reached a three-way security agreement for Turkey.
Ankara has dragged its feet over Sweden, claiming Stockholm harbors terrorists.
Hungary objected to Sweden’s application due to Swedish criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s democratic and rule of law record.
Billstrom didn’t know Budapest’s reservations to Sweden’s admission.
“Hungary gave its support at the Madrid summit last year for Sweden to be given invitee status without any conditions,” he said. “We strongly recommend ratification.”
