Brussels. June 9th. INTERFAX - Sweden may allow NATO troops to be on its territory on a temporary basis even before the country officially joins the alliance, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Defense Minister Paul Jonson said in an article for the Swedish press.
"The government has decided that the Swedish armed forces can begin preparatory activities with NATO and the alliance countries to ensure joint operations in the future," Western media quoted them as saying.
"Such preparations may include the temporary placement of foreign equipment and personnel on Swedish territory," they explained.
Kristersson and Jonson also argued that such a decision would send a signal to Russia, and that the Russian Federation would remain a threat to neighboring countries in the future.
Turkey is blocking Sweden's entry into the alliance for now. Ankara's claims relate to Stockholm's position on Kurdish groups, which the Turkish side considers terrorist. Ankara is seeking tougher actions from the Swedish authorities against the Kurds.
Apart from Turkey, Hungary has not ratified Sweden's accession to NATO.
