Finland and Sweden strengthen NATO application interest
STORY: Finnish President Sauli Niinisto confirmed that Finland would apply to join NATO, while Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats announced an official policy change that could pave the way for Sweden’s application in the coming days.
If Sweden does not apply, they would be the only Nordic outsider. Other Nordic countries like Norway, Denmark and Iceland joined the pact as founding members.
Finland and Sweden would like guarantees that NATO member nations would defend them while the application process is underway.
Finland’s Niinisto spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, and said their conversation did not contain any threats, despite Moscow repeatedly warning of “serious consequences” if the nations join NATO.
Ratification can take a year as parliaments of all 30 NATO countries need to approve new members, however, NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, says arrangements for the interim period can be made.
NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JENS STOLTENBERG:
"We will try to speed up that process as much as possible. many allies have stated that they will find fast tracks as for instance Germany has indicated that this can go quite fast. We will look into ways to provide security assurances including by increasing NATO presence in the region, in the Baltic region in and around Finland and Sweden."
While many member nations, such as Britain, Germany and the United States, are showing support, Turkey is holding back.
Turkey surprised its allies in recent days by saying it had reservations about Finnish and Swedish membership due to their support of Kurdish militant groups present on their territory. On Sunday, in a meeting with foreign ministers in Berlin, Turkey said in order to support their memberships, the Nordic nations must halt Kurdish militant support, as well as lift bans on some sales of arms to Turkey.
Sunday’s meeting seemed promising, as Turkey’s Foreign Minister said talks with Swedish and Finnish counterparts were helpful. U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, echoed those remarks.
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN:
"I don't want to characterize the specific conversation that we had either with the foreign minister or within the NATO sessions themselves, but I can say this much: I heard almost across the board, very strong support (for Sweden, Finland) joining the alliance if that’s what they choose to do, and I’m very confident that we will reach consensus on that.”
Once vetted by NATO allies, and if Turkish objections are met, approval could come in a matter of weeks.
相關影片推薦
- 00940該越跌越買?高勝率ETF投資組合這樣買進擊的荷包73,949 次觀看・1 週前
- 1:47誰替吳秉叡代投票? 葉元之公布影片:疑似楊曜|#鏡新聞鏡新聞43,000 次觀看・5 小時前
- 1:35已婚男帶女子住高檔摩鐵 突然猝死妻錯愕|#鏡新聞鏡新聞13,775 次觀看・1 天前
- 1:28兒媳搶家產 打人 還趕公公出門? 竹北紅布條引熱議東森新聞影音253,137 次觀看・1 天前
- 2:01長榮海運紀念品贈「薄毯」 股民趕上班前領取華視影音57,930 次觀看・6 小時前
- 1:4131歲接家業! 殷琪婚姻兩度觸礁又未婚生子民視影音545,764 次觀看・2 天前
- 2:16美大學挺巴勒斯坦學運升級 UCLA示威者遭毆、營地被投擲煙火 警方進駐鎮壓Yahoo奇摩(國際通)15,397 次觀看・8 小時前
- 2:24烏克蘭98歲阿嬤逃戰火 靠拖鞋、拐杖獨自步行10公里 從「二戰存活如今卻一無所有」Yahoo奇摩(國際通)12,440 次觀看・7 小時前
- 4:20傅崐萁訪陸帶兩岸紅利 民眾買單國民黨?街訪民眾表態【風向台灣 街訪】風向台灣152,086 次觀看・8 小時前
- 1:44返台前恐已擬好計畫! 自救會嘆「得償困難」|#鏡新聞鏡新聞1,972 次觀看・1 天前