Türkiye postpones NATO accession talks with Sweden, Finland for undefined period

Türkiye on January 24 postponed NATO accession talks with Sweden and Finland, further denting the Nordic neighbours' hopes of joining the Western defence alliance after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ankara announced its decision one day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Sweden for allowing weekend protests that included the burning of the Holy Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, writes Deccan Herald.

A Turkish diplomatic source said the tri-party meeting has been pushed back from February to a "later date", without providing further details.

The decision further diminished the chances of the two countries joining NATO before Türkiye's May presidential and parliamentary elections.