The potential NATO membership of Sweden and Finland would “strengthen” the European Union top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Tuesday at a meeting of the bloc’s defence ministers in Brussels.

Mr Borell said the accession of the two Nordic countries to the western military alliance would also increase the EU’s “capacity to react” to threats along its border.

The Nordic nations are expected to submit their formal NATO applications at any moment, a reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to Mr Borrell, NATO’s potential enlargement is “the contrary of what Putin was willing to achieve” by invading Ukraine as the Russian president “was trying to stop the development of NATO (along) the borders of Russia.”

Mr Borrell added that he “hopes NATO will be able to overcome” Turkey’s objections to Finland and Sweden’s bid.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that he could not agree to the accession of countries that have imposed sanctions on his country and repeated claims that both countries support “terrorist organisations.”

The EU defence ministers will be joined by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in person and Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov via video link for a discussion on Ukraine.

(dpa/NAN)