NATO Accession For Sweden, Finland 'Is Not A Bilateral Issue,' Blinken Says In Ankara

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on February 20 that Washington strongly supports Sweden and Finland's quick NATO accession given the steps they have already taken, even as his Turkish counterpart stressed the need for more concrete steps. "The United States has strong support for the Nordic accession as quickly as possible.... Sweden and Finland's NATO expansion is not a bilateral issue," Blinken told a joint news conference with Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. Cavusoglu said all parties in the aliance must convince Sweden, in particular, to take more action to address Ankara's concerns. To read the original story by Reuters, click here.