US says ‘the time is now’ for Sweden to join Nato

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press meeting in Lulea, Sweden (Jonas Ekstromer/TT News Agency via AP/PA)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the “time is now” for Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden joining Nato but said the Biden administration also believed that Turkey should be provided with upgraded F-16 fighters “as soon as possible”.

Mr Blinken maintained that the administration had not linked the two issues but acknowledged that some US politicians had.