Jens Stoltenberg, the Chief of NATO, has announced that Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support Sweden's bid to join NATO. Stoltenberg stated that Erdogan will

present Sweden's membership request to the Turkish parliament and ensure its ratification.

Earlier, Erdogan had hinted that Turkey would support Sweden if the European Union reopens membership talks with Ankara. However, Turkey has previously criticized Sweden for hosting Kurdish militants.

Stoltenberg made the announcement in Vilnius following discussions between Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, held in preparation for the NATO summit in Lithuania's capital.

Stoltenberg described Erdogan's agreement as a "historic step" but clarified that a specific date for Sweden's NATO membership cannot be provided at this time. Photo by World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland, Wikimedia commons.