Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, has acknowledged that Turkey has thwarted attempts to allow Finland and Sweden to join the security alliance simultaneously. The government in Stockholm has already come under fire from Turkey for allegedly showing excessive leniency toward certain groups, particularly Kurdish ones.

According to rumors, Stoltenberg will travel to Ankara to speak with the foreign minister and president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, about the matter. Both Finland and Sweden have met their obligations to NATO and Turkey, according to the Secretary-General, and therefore should be permitted to join the coalition.

With Turkey’s current election cycle in mind, the topic has taken on particular relevance. The administration is likely to take a more assertive posture on this issue because it may help the present president win more votes if the Nordic countries join NATO.

The door is still open for Finland and Sweden to join NATO, according to Stoltenberg, who has stated that he does not anticipate Turkey to modify its position in the foreseeable future. He has said that the two nations should make use of this period to continue their efforts to fulfill the requirements for membership.