After all necessary domestic political formalities, Sweden and Finland have now officially applied for NATO membership. Ambassadors from the two countries handed over the relevant documents to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday morning.
The Scandinavian countries want to join the military alliance out of concerns for their security after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both countries are thus giving up their long tradition of military non-alignment.
On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of both countries signed applications to join NATO. Previously, there was a broad majority in the respective parliaments for the move. Now all 30 alliance states must agree to the northern expansion.
Erdogan sets conditions
Turkey, however, threatens to veto the admission process of the Scandinavian countries. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to agree to accession only in exchange for concessions. He officially justifies this with the Scandinavians’ alleged support for the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK and the Kurdish militia YPG in Syria.
According to diplomats, in addition to statements by the Finns and Swedes about the fight against terrorism, arms deals could also play a role. Turkey wants to buy F-16 fighter jets in the US, but a possible deal is politically controversial in Washington.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
