STOCKHOLM — A crucial security meeting between Sweden and Turkey has been postponed after a technical issue forced the airplane carrying Sweden’s foreign and justice ministers to return to Stockholm. The aircraft, en route to Turkey, encountered the problem mid-flight, but officials confirmed that the crew and passengers were not in immediate danger.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry announced that a new date will be set for the meeting, which was intended to address the security pact tied to Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership bid. The meeting was to be the first between Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, Defence Minister Pal Jonson, and Turkish officials following Turkey’s agreement earlier this year.
Turkey had initially delayed Sweden’s NATO membership over concerns about Sweden’s stance on groups it considers terrorist organizations and an arms embargo imposed by Stockholm, which has since been lifted. Sweden’s NATO bid, approved in January, marked the end of a year-long negotiation process between the two nations.