With the participation of 26,000 troops from 13 countries, Sweden today launched its largest military exercise in 25 years on its soil, at a time when its NATO membership has been blocked by Turkey.

“The exercises are taking place in air, land and sea, in a large part of the country,” the country’s Armed Forces said in a statement.

The high schools will continue until May 11 and focus on the north and south of Sweden, as well as the strategically important island of Gotland. Soldiers from the US, Britain, Finland, Poland, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Austria, Germany and France – most of these countries are NATO members – are taking part.

Finland officially became NATO’s 31st member on April 4 but Sweden’s candidacy, which must be approved by all other member countries, faces obstacles from Turkey and Hungary. In particular, Turkey blames Stockholm for refusing to extradite dozens of Kurdish activists or people accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of taking part in a 2016 coup attempt. Western diplomats hope the Turkish president will change his mind if he wins elections next month. , or that his successor will give the “green light” to Sweden.