Turkey no longer opposes Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership. That’s what the Finnish president said. At the NATO summit in Madrid, the three countries agreed on the objections Turkey initially had, NATO sources say. This clears the way for the two Nordic countries to join.
Turkey will support Finland and Sweden’s invitation to join at NATO’s Madrid summit, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said. “I am pleased to announce that we have an agreement that will pave the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference after the signing. “Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum addressing Turkey’s concerns, including arms exports and the fight against terrorism.”
According to Stoltenberg, the three countries agreed to step up cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Finland and Sweden also commit as allies to support Turkey against threats to national security. “This includes further amending national law, cracking down on PKK activities and reaching an agreement with Turkey on extradition,” Stoltenberg said. “In light of the progress we have made together, Turkey agrees to support Finland and Sweden to join NATO.”
This afternoon, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Madrid, in the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The intention at this meeting was to discuss the Turkish veto against a NATO membership of Sweden and Finland. Turkey opposed this because both countries support the banned Kurdistan Worker Party PKK, which has also been branded a terrorist organization by the US and the EU.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of tonight’s NATO summit in the Spanish capital, Madrid. At the meeting, Finland, Sweden and Turkey agreed to sign the trilateral memorandum addressing Turkey’s “legitimate security concerns”. The memorandum was signed on camera by the foreign ministers of the three countries.
“The allies will agree on concrete steps for our accession to NATO in the next two days,” the Finnish president said in a press release. According to him, that decision is imminent. NATO will officially invite both countries on Wednesday, the NATO chief said. “Today shows that we can unite around our core tasks,” Stoltenberg said after the signing.
According to him, the door is now open for the accession of the two Nordic countries. “What will happen now is possibly the fastest procedure ever,” he said. “This sends a clear message to Putin.” According to the secretary-general, this will get more NATO on its borders, instead of less, as Putin had demanded.
The Turkish presidency said in a press release that Turkey has obtained “full cooperation” from Finland and Sweden against the fighters of the PKK and their allies. Turkey has obtained everything it wanted, it also sounded. According to Turkey, the two candidate countries agree not to impose restrictions or an embargo on the defense industry.
The two Nordic countries will also take “concrete measures for the rendition of terrorists” on their territory, according to Turkey, and to “ban” activities of fundraising and recruitment for the PKK and its offshoots. Ankara is also pleased that the movement of preacher Fetullah Gülen, installed in the US and considered by Erdogan to be responsible for the failed coup in 2016, will be considered “a terrorist organization,” it said.
Comments
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson hailed an “important step” after announcing the deal with Turkey for her country’s and Finland’s NATO accession. According to her, that will strengthen the alliance. “The commitment to full accession to NATO is of course important for Sweden and Finland, but also a very important step for NATO, as our two countries will provide security within NATO,” Andersson said in an interview with French news agency AFP. .
The fact that Turkey is putting aside its opposition to Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO is, according to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, “the only right choice”. With the two Nordic countries as NATO allies, “we are making Europe safer and NATO stronger,” he says in response.
“Sweden and Finland have been our European partners for many years. They share our values of freedom and democracy,” said the prime minister. “Belgium looks forward to working with Sweden and Finland as NATO allies.”
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.