Blinken says ‘the time is now’ for Sweden to join Nato

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday called on Turkey’s re-elected leader to drop his objections to Sweden’s membership in Nato, urging movement on ratification before an alliance summit in July. 

Two days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a new term, meaning he will enter his third decade in power, Blinken said on a trip to Sweden that Stockholm had addressed Turkey’s concerns over joining the group.