The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, communicated this Wednesday by telephone to the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, that he needs concrete steps and written commitments before he lifts his veto on Sweden and Finland joining Nato.
(You might be interested in: The United States expects Sweden and Finland to join Nato soon)
Erdogan spoke with Stoltenberg about the candidacy of the two Nordic democracies, which Ankara opposes on the grounds that both, but especially Sweden, are a sanctuary for “terrorists”, both from the Kurdish guerrilla active in Turkey, the PKK, and from Kurdish militias in Syria.
(You might be interested in: NATO: Sweden has taken “important steps” to meet Turkish demands)
The Islamist leader reiterated that “it will not be possible to advance in the process without taking concrete steps to change the paradigm of the fight against terrorism and cooperation in the defense industry and without setting commitments in writing,” reported the Turkish Presidency.
According to the British newspaper Financial Times, which cites sources from the Atlantic Alliance, Turkey has rejected a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland that could have been organized this Wednesday, at the start of the summit of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
Ankara demands a hardening of what it considers tolerance of European countries on public acts of sympathizers of the PKK, considered terrorist by the European Union; that this consideration extends to the YPG Kurdish militias; the extradition of persons claimed by Turkey for terrorism; and the end of the arms sales embargo in force in Sweden and Finland.
NATO expects early accession
I welcome the fact that Finland and Sweden are prepared to address some of the concerns that Turkey has raised about terrorism
Stoltenberg, for his part, assured this Wednesday that the Alliance is working to find solutions to the concerns raised by Turkey and getting Sweden and Finland to become members of the transatlantic organization “as soon as possible.”
“We are looking for ways to find a solution to these problems as soon as possible, so that Finland and Sweden can become members as soon as possible,” said the politician at the press conference prior to the meeting of defense ministers. of the NATO that is celebrated this Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels.
Stoltenberg, however, acknowledged that he cannot say “when” exactly the two Nordic countries will be able to enter the Alliance.
The thirty current members of the transatlantic organization must unanimously support the entry of new countries, for which Ankara’s approval is needed.
Stoltenberg stated that “close contacts” are maintained with Stockholm and Helsinki.
“I welcome the fact that Finland and Sweden are prepared to address some of the concerns that Turkey has raised about terrorism and also, of course, we are working very closely with our ally Turkey on those concerns that it has raised.” , commented.
The former Norwegian prime minister admitted that it is “too early” to say what state the accession process of Finland and Sweden will find when the summit of allied leaders is held between June 28 and 30 in Madrid.
We are looking for ways to find a solution to these issues as soon as possible.
In any case, he stressed that the summit “has never been a deadline.”
If, before the meeting of allied leaders in Spain, Turkey gives its approval to the entry of Sweden and Finland and the accession negotiations are completed, very brief because the two countries comply with NATO standards, Helsinki and Stockholm would participate in the summit as officially “invited” to join the Alliance.
The status of “guests” would allow them to participate in all NATO meetings but they would still not be covered by article 5 of collective defense, which would only come with the ratification of the accession at the national level of the 30 allies.
In the ministerial meeting, in addition, the NATO countries will address the reinforcement of their deterrence and defense.
The Russian aggression against Ukraine has already motivated the Alliance to double its battalions in countries on the eastern flank to eight and the allies have placed more than 40,000 soldiers under NATO command.
“We will now make decisions about the scale and design of our long-term posture. To ensure that we can defend every inch of allied territory. From the get-go, at all times, and against any threat. This will mean a huge increase in our presence.” , capacities and preparation”, pointed Stoltenberg.
Specifically, he said that this will involve more NATO combat formations to reinforce the eastern battalions; more air, sea, and cyber defenses, and prepositioned equipment and weapons stockpiles. “And a new force model, with more forces with greater availability, and specific forces pre-assigned to the defense of specific allies,” he added.
INTERNATIONAL WRITING
*With information from EFE
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