Scholz rejects linking Sweden NATO bid with Turkey's EU accession

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken out against linking Sweden's possible NATO accession to a revival of the EU accession process with Turkey, reported dpa.

The two issues were not connected, Scholz said in Berlin on Monday.

"That's why, in my opinion, they should not be understood as related issues," he said.

Scholz reiterated that Sweden had fulfilled all the requirements for joining NATO.

"I hope that we will soon succeed in Sweden becoming a NATO member."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan surprised many earlier in the day by making an approval of Sweden's admission to NATO dependent on the revival of Turkey's EU accession talks with Ankara.