MADRID — NATO leaders on Wednesday formally invited Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, one day after Turkey dropped its objections to their membership, clearing the way for what would be one of the most significant expansions of the alliance in decades.
The historic deal, following Turkey’s agreement to a memorandum with the two Nordic countries, underscores how the war in Ukraine has backfired for President Vladimir V. Putin, subverting Russian efforts to weaken NATO and pushing Sweden and Finland, which were neutral and nonaligned for decades, into the alliance’s arms.
After weeks of talks, capped by an hourslong meeting in Madrid, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey agreed to lift his block on Sweden and Finland’s membership in return for a set of actions and promises that they will act against terrorism and terrorist organizations.
“As NATO allies, Finland and Sweden commit to fully support Turkey against threats to its national security,” NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said, providing some details of the agreement. “This includes further amending their domestic legislation, cracking down on P.K.K. activities and entering into an agreement with Turkey on extradition,” he added, referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which seeks an independent Kurdish state on territory partly within Turkey’s borders.
Mr. Stoltenberg confirmed at a news conference on Wednesday that the alliance had formally invited Finland and Sweden to join after Turkey lifted its objections on Tuesday night. Now, the legislatures of all 30 current members must ratify the accession, which could take several months.
The U.S. Senate is already pressing ahead with hearings on the application, and Mr. Biden has been a firm proponent of the new members.
Mr. Erdogan had been blocking the Nordic countries’ NATO bids amid concerns over Sweden’s longtime support for the P.K.K., which has attacked nonmilitary targets and killed civilians in Turkey, is outlawed in that country and is designated by both the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organization.
But the memorandum does not specify the extradition of any of the 45 people or so Mr. Erdogan wanted sent to Turkey to face trial on terrorism charges. Sweden has already passed tougher legislation against terrorism that goes into effect on Friday.
Both Finland and Sweden had been militarily nonaligned for many years, but decided to apply to join the alliance after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. With Russia attacking a neighbor, both countries felt vulnerable, though Sweden, with a long tradition of neutrality, was more hesitant.
Mr. Putin warned both countries against joining NATO, but his threats proved counterproductive.
The two countries bring geostrategic benefits to the alliance. Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia and has a well-equipped modern army; Sweden can control the entrance to the Baltic Sea, which will help a great deal in NATO planning to defend the more vulnerable countries in Eastern Europe.
The final push to resolve the dispute started early Tuesday, when President Biden called Mr. Erdogan to urge him to “seize the moment” on the eve of the summit, to allow discussions on other topics to proceed, according to a senior administration official with knowledge of the discussion.
The official said that the deal between Turkey and the two Nordic countries involved compromises on both sides, including the statement by Turkey welcoming Finland and Sweden to apply and issues involving an arms embargo imposed on Turkey and Turkey’s belief that Finland and Sweden had offered safe havens to groups they considered terrorists.
Johanna Lemola contributed reporting from Helsinki, Finland.
— Steven Erlanger and Michael D. Shear
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/06/29 ... e-war-news
NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
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Re: NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
Any impartial observer might have foreseen this 4 months ago. Now deal with it, Vova, little man.
Re: NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
It may be worth noting here that St. Petersburg is just a two-hour drive from the Finnish border.jserraglio wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 10:41 amAny impartial observer might have foreseen this 4 months ago. Now deal with it, Vova, little man.
Hmmm...
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Re: NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
Yes, Putin’s main squeeze lives there, I think.
Re: NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
A poll yesterday revealed that 89% of Ukranians are against ceding any territory to the madman from Moscow. They want to fight, and that's a good thing, but they need modern communications gear that the Russkies can't jam, and lots of it.
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Re: NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
Every dollar we spend is cheap. It exposes Putin"s hopelessly inept military. To think that he poses anything other than a nuclear threat to NATO is a fantasy. His army is decrepit.
How for instance does he now plan to defend his 830-mile border with NATO-bound Finland?
Sorry Vova, you f*cked up bigtime.
How for instance does he now plan to defend his 830-mile border with NATO-bound Finland?
Sorry Vova, you f*cked up bigtime.
Last edited by jserraglio on Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.
Indeed.jserraglio wrote: ↑Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:37 amEvery dollar we spend is well worth it. It exposes Putin"s hopelessly inept military. To think that he poses anything other than a nuclear threat to NATO is a fantasy. His army is decrepit.
How for instance does he now plan to defend his 830-mile border with Finland?
Sorry Vova, you f*cked up bigtime.
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