US Continues Ukraine Patriot Missile Production Talks Despite Trump Doubts 
Canada, US Hold Constructive Trade Talks as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On 
Colombia President Abelardo De La Espriella Pledges Drug Crackdown, Economic Reforms 
Rubio, UK’s Miliband Stress Stronger European Security Role in Washington Talks 
Trump Orders Probe Into Pentagon Munitions Stockpile Leaks After Iran Conflict 
Ukraine Agrees to Protect Kazakhstan Oil Exports via Black Sea 
US-Backed Venezuela Government, Opposition Talks Begin 
Trump Administration Weighs Executive Order on Vaccines and Autism Research 
Russian Strikes on Ukraine Kill Six, Wound Dozens in Balakliia and Sumy 
Zelensky Urges Faster NATO Action on Air Defense Missiles 
ICE to Complete Nationwide Body Camera Rollout by End of August 
US Expands Social Media Vetting to Foreign Journalists Seeking Visas 
Germany Warns of Daily Hybrid Warfare Threats 
SEC Moves to Dismiss Insider Trading Case Against Trump-Pardoned Terren Peizer 
Russian Strikes Kill Six in Eastern and Northern Ukraine, Dozens Injured 
The Swedish government is set to present its NATO accession legislation to its parliament in the coming month. The move comes as Turkey and Hungary have yet to approve the bid.
On Wednesday, Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billstrom said in his speech on the government’s foreign policy priorities of the year that the legislation for accession to the NATO alliance would be introduced to parliament in March. The timing of Sweden’s membership, however, still depends on whether or not holdout countries Turkey and Hungary approve.
Sweden and Finland filed a joint application to the NATO alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year. However, the process of accepting the Nordic countries ran into opposition from Turkey. Ankara has demanded that Sweden present a tougher stance against the Kurdistan Worker’s Party which the Turkish government and the European Union considers a terrorist group, along with another group Turkey accuses of a coup attempt in 2016.
The Hungarian parliament is set to debate ratification later this month and is expected to back Finland and Sweden’s bids to become NATO members. Turkey, however, has said so far that it was willing to approve of Finland’s membership.
Relations between Sweden and Turkey over Stockholm’s NATO bid have come under strain in recent weeks due to the protests in Stockholm against Sweden’s accession to NATO, with a far-right politician burning a copy of the Koran. Progress on Sweden’s membership is unlikely going to happen ahead of the general elections in Turkey that will take place in May, as well as the recent earthquake that hit the country and Syria this month.
On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said it was important that Finland and Sweden’s accession bids were ratified more quickly than together. Western countries under the alliance have said that they prefer the two Nordic countries join at the same time citing the ease of integration into military structures should the accession be simultaneous.
“The main question is not whether Finland and Sweden are ratified together. The main question is that they are both ratified as full members as soon as possible,” the NATO chief told reporters.
