Teppo Tauriainen, the Swedish ambassador to Spain, is committed to reconciliation with Turkey, stating that “if we are members of the same Alliance, we should pay more attention to their concerns”
Teppo Tauriainen (Kuusamo, Finland, 1961), diplomat with a long career, has been the Swedish ambassador to Spain since 2019. He visits Bilbao to inaugurate the new consulate in northern Spain. “Our security environment has changed with the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he says of the war crisis. And he adds with regard to his country’s protocol of accession to NATO, signed in Brussels on Tuesday, that his country will not host Alliance “installations or bases” in the short or medium term. This Thursday he will meet the Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu to explore the “opportunities for cooperation” between Sweden and the Basque Country.
– The last accession to NATO lasted twelve months. How long do you expect to be an official member of the Alliance?
– We hope it will be as soon as possible. It does not depend on us, but on the parliaments of the thirty allied countries.
– Do you have a guarantee that Turkey will not block the process?
– We have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding on certain matters that we expect Turkey to respect. If we are members of the same Alliance, we must also pay more attention to their concerns.
– Do you mean that you are going to extradite Kurdish refugees whom Turkey considers terrorists?
– We take your concerns about terrorism seriously, but regarding renditions we will follow Swedish law and international conventions. And the government has said we will not extradite Swedish citizens. Ultimately, it is our courts that decide.
– Alliance membership will end 200 years of military non-alignment. How will this affect your foreign policy?
– There is no need to change the main thrust of our foreign policy. It’s not an abrupt change. We have not been a member of any alliance, that has been our policy. But at the same time, we’ve had defense cooperation. We have been NATO partners, we have bilateral agreements with the United States, England, with our neighbours…
But now things have changed…
– Our security environment has changed with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There is a sense of insecurity in our society. In March, the government, together with all political parties, launched an investigation to see where we stand with the new situation. And the main conclusion was that we missed the security guarantee, which comes with NATO Article 5. That’s the missing key.
– Are you afraid of retaliation from Russia?
– We’re prepared. So far we haven’t seen much, but you never know. I think the tone of Russia has changed since your initial comments, which were quite harsh. A few weeks ago I read that if there were NATO facilities or troops in Finland or Sweden, that could indeed trigger Russian activity. But that is not going to happen in the short and medium term. We are not going to make any changes to our immune system at the moment, that is not necessary.
– Swedish public opinion has always been against joining NATO. What happens if it turns unfavorable in the future?
– I don’t think that’s going to happen. In practice, NATO membership will not be felt in Sweden.
– What will your country contribute to NATO?
– Both Sweden and Finland will contribute to collective security. It will enhance the Alliance’s operations in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. Our armies are modern, with advanced technology. There will also be a deterrent effect: it will cost more to attack an allied country if Sweden and Finland are partners.
– How does the denuclearization process pursued by your government fit in with the fact that you are joining a club with three nuclear powers?
– We will continue to defend the same values as up to now and we will remain committed to nuclear disarmament.
– That is possible?
– Yes, Norway is and Germany is also active in the nuclear disarmament campaign. We will continue to defend the same democratic values and human rights.
– Do you see the end of the war near?
– Unfortunately, the outlook is complicated and experts say it could take years. Hopefully a solution can be found.
– Are you in favor of negotiations with Russia?
– We have always been in favor of dialogue. But the problem in this case is that Russia’s actions are so unacceptable that before they can engage in dialogue or cooperation, Moscow must act. They have violated international law and the European security order.
– In Spain, the decision to increase defense spending to meet NATO commitments has sparked a confrontation between government partners.
– It is difficult for me to comment on this internal debate, but we have a similar situation in Sweden. Our left-wing party (not in the executive branch) has doubts about NATO and the resources we invest in Defence. But I think that in Spain, as in Sweden, the other parties are in favor of government policy.
– What kind of relationship do you have with the Spanish Executive?
– Excellent. We appreciate your support in our NATO accession process. And in the field of the European Union, we work very well together, we are in quite similar positions. The dialogue is very frequent.
– What is your assessment of the Madrid Summit?
– Everything was perfect. It is a compliment to Spain as the organizer of an event like this.
– How is the commercial relationship with Euskadi?
– There are many possibilities for contacts and exchanges. Especially with the Basque Country. In the case of sustainable energy, for example, there are already projects. Tomorrow (today) I have had a meeting with the Lehendakari with the Chamber of Commerce to discuss possibilities for cooperation. I’m hopeful we can do more. It depends not only on us, but also on whether there is real interest in this. My feeling is that it is there.
Source: La Verdad
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