Recently, both countries applied for NATO membership. This followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Turkey, as the only NATO ally, was opposed because the Scandinavian countries would support the Kurdish movements PKK and YPG. Ankara considers those movements to be terrorist organizations.
Turkey, Sweden and Finland have signed a joint memorandum declaring that they will guarantee each other’s security. That “answers Turkey’s concerns,” said NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.
Unit saved
The outcome of the talks has great political significance. In Moscow it was hoped that the cold could not be taken out of the air. This would indicate that NATO was divided.
“For weeks, the Turkish president was obstructive, but on the first day of the talks there is white smoke,” says political reporter Fons Lambie. “That saved NATO’s unity.”
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The Member States are very relieved, Lambie knows. Every day that Erdogan would thwart was seen by Western diplomats as a small gain for Putin. Erdogan now has a statement in which Sweden and Finland address Turkey’s concerns. The arms embargo is no longer in place and there will be more cooperation in fighting terrorism .”
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Countries will quickly agree
He speaks of a historical event. “Apart from the Turkish resistance, it is historic that Sweden and Finland, neutral for many years, will join the NATO alliance. The Russian invasion of Ukraine will only make NATO bigger and stronger. That was not Putin’s goal.”
Other countries will soon agree, Lambie expects. “In The Hague, the cabinet has already asked whether the House can approve the accession of Sweden and Finland as soon as possible.”
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