Swedish Prime Minister Kristensen (left) explains the status of Sweden's application to join NATO at a news conference, with chief negotiator Stan Strom next to him.

(Reuters)

[Instant News/Comprehensive Report] Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said today (14th) that since Turkey continues to oppose Sweden's membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the possibility of partner country Finland joining NATO alone "increased.

"It has become increasingly clear in recent weeks that Turkey still has reservations about Sweden's bid, but is ready to approve Finland's application for membership," Krisdersen told a news conference, Agence France-Presse reported.

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"We're not sure that's going to happen, but we think it's more likely to happen in the overall assessment after a lot of recent conversations," Christerson said.

Turkey accuses Sweden of harboring so-called "terrorists," such as members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed displeasure over the burning of a Koran by protesters outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm in January , which interrupted the negotiations with Sweden, but the negotiations have resumed on March 9.

"Turkey still believes we are not there yet, and that was made clear at the meeting," said Sweden's chief negotiator Oscar Stenstrom, who was present, adding that Ankara had made no comments to Finland. Express the same "dissatisfaction".

Christiansen stressed that he believes Sweden will eventually become a member of NATO. "It is not a question of if Sweden will become a member of NATO, but when Sweden will become a member of NATO."