Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed a strong working relationship on July 10 in Vilnius, outlining ongoing cooperation between Turkey and Sweden. The three leaders emphasized a shared commitment to security and stability as both nations align on strategic goals within the alliance.
The tripartite mechanism first introduced at the 2022 Madrid NATO summit, together with a new bilateral security framework, sets a steady path for engagement. The partners agreed to hold annual ministerial meetings and to form specialized working groups whenever the situation requires. This structured cadence aims to translate high level diplomacy into practical actions on security, defense, and economic collaboration.
Sweden pledged to present a concrete terrorism combat roadmap at the inaugural session of the security pact. The roadmap seeks to implement all elements of the tripartite memorandum, ensuring that counterterrorism measures are aligned across borders and jurisdictions. This commitment underscores a shared determination to curb violent extremism and to safeguard regional security through coordinated policies and intelligence exchange.
Sweden also reaffirmed its stance on avoiding support for groups seen as hostile to Turkey, disavowing backing for the People’s Protection Units in Syria or any organization associated with FETO. The message was clear that Turkey’s security concerns are acknowledged and respected within the framework of mutual cooperation and risk management.
The partners reiterated their pledge to remove obstacles in defense trade and investment. They committed to maintaining barrier-free dialogue and to eliminating unnecessary impediments that could hinder the flow of strategic technologies, equipment, and related services between the two countries. This openness is intended to bolster defense readiness and strengthen industrial ties that benefit both economies.
Economic ties were placed at the forefront of discussions. Sweden and Turkey agreed to bolster cooperation through a joint economic and trade committee, with a view to expanding bilateral trade and investment opportunities. The plan includes practical measures to simplify market access, boost collaborative ventures, and support entrepreneurs, researchers, and businesses across sectors.
In support of Turkey’s broader regional and international goals, Sweden reiterated strong backing for Turkey’s European Union accession process. This includes work toward modernization of the EU Turkey customs union and pursuing visa liberalization steps that would facilitate cross border movement and business travel for citizens of both nations. The stance signals a shared belief that closer ties with the EU can contribute to regional prosperity and stability.
Following the talks, Stoltenberg announced that Erdogan had agreed to accelerate the submission of the protocol granting Sweden membership to NATO for parliamentary voting in Turkey. The ministers indicated confidence that the Turkish parliament would likely approve Sweden’s accession in the autumn, a timing that aligns with broader alliance expansion plans and regional security objectives.
As a precursor to these developments, Stoltenberg noted progress toward finalizing parliamentary review and approval, highlighting a constructive environment for alliance integration. Erdogan’s confirmation that the protocol would be presented promptly signals a commitment to speed up the formal process and to align legislative timelines across member states. The anticipated parliament vote reflects a shared understanding that NATO enlargement strengthens collective defense and reinforces transatlantic unity.
The discussions also touched on the broader strategic landscape, including the management of external assets and sanctions regimes within partner regions. The dialogue emphasized prudent financial and political coordination to ensure that sanctions and asset management align with international law and bilateral commitments while supporting neighborly cooperation and regional stability.