The two countries agree to fight terrorism and overcome Turkey’s objections
Joe Biden couldn’t be more pleased this Thursday. Finland’s and Sweden’s decision to apply for NATO membership seems to him to be “a turning point” in history because “they will make the Alliance stronger”. And not because of its military capacity, but because of the strength of its democracies. “They have the full support of the United States,” he declared the day after hosting their heads of state at the White House. “This is a victory for democracy in action.”
Not everyone sees it that way. Turkey has blocked these countries’ “historic” request for their support of the Kurdish people, but Washington is optimistic. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is convinced that Turkey will eventually give in. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is only trying to take advantage of this situation to eliminate the international resistance to his fight for Kurdistan.
This Thursday, in that White House pink garden, he scored his first victory by making a commitment to “condemn terrorism in all its forms” from the Nordic leaders, who promised to fight “actively” against him. “As NATO allies, we will be as committed to Turkey’s security as Turkey is to ours and we will take terrorism very seriously,” Finnish President Sauli Niinistö pledged, along with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
Russia has also raised no objection, although it has warned that transferring military equipment into those countries’ territories so close to their borders would be considered a threat. Biden, of course, disagreed with the possibility that the strengthening of the Atlantic Alliance poses a threat “to no one” because he sees NATO as a purely defensive organization. Of course, “the attack on one of us is an attack on the whole Alliance,” he warned.
For Sweden, it marks a break from a tradition of neutrality it has maintained for 200 years, but since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 25, “the masks have fallen,” the prime minister admitted. “Sweden has chosen a new path.” Andersson’s government believes that “the best way to protect the Swedish people” is to integrate into the military structure of the transatlantic organization, regardless of threats from Moscow. “We have not blinked,” added the head of state. “It’s been a turning point for us.”
Biden boasts that until recently many wondered whether NATO was still a relevant organization, but Vladimir Putin’s movement has strengthened it and renewed its raison d’être. In addition to bringing advanced military capabilities, both countries say they will soon be ready to meet the commitment of 2% of their GDP in military spending.
During their visit to Washington, they will meet with Senate leaders, where their request will be voted on, to explain everything their countries will contribute to the Alliance, not only in military affairs but also in the promotion of renewable energy sources, which has already been demonstrated by the Russian invasion, is a major national security problem.
On the other hand, Poland showed its support for the Scandinavian countries. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki assured Thursday that Warsaw will defend Sweden and Finland in the event of an attack, even before joining NATO. Croatia, in a sense, did the same. While the president, Zoran Milanovic, is pushing for the veto, the foreign minister, Gordan Grlic Radman, said his representative to NATO in Brussels, Mario Nobilo, “has my instructions to accept the membership requests”.
Source: La Verdad
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