Finland’s foreign minister said Thursday that while there’s been progress alleviating Turkey’s concerns on Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO bids, there is still no “clear date” on when Ankara will ratify their memberships.
“What we are still missing is the clear date, a clear plan for the Turkish parliament to deal with this issue,” Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said at a press conference with his Swedish counterpart and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.
Haavisto said that he hopes the memberships are approved ahead of Turkey’s 2023 election. Western officials told The New York Times on Thursday that they fear Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be willing to delay Sweden and Finland’s NATO bids for several more months, or in the “nightmare scenario,” he could block them entirely.
Blinken was more optimistic and said Turkey’s concerns are being addressed and that he expects the Nordic nations will join the alliance soon. “I have every expectation that both will formally become members soon,” he said.
Erdogan’s main concerns are over Sweden and Finland’s alleged support for the Kurdish militant group PKK. Stockholm extradited a Kurdish man to Turkey last week who sought asylum in Sweden after being convicted for alleged ties to the PKK. Ankara welcomed the move but said it needs more extraditions to approve Sweden’s NATO bid.
Turkey also wants Sweden and Finland to lift export controls they placed on Turkey in 2019, which Ankara says amount to an arms embargo. Sweden announced it was lifting the restrictions in September, and Finland’s defense minister said Thursday that Helsinki is open to allowing arms exports on a case-by-case basis.
Keep waiting…!
Turkey is such a kidder!
A kidder with a Nazi in charge.
What hype – “nightmare scenario”.
It will be a NIGHTMARE ON PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
A little bit of suspense it good for the circulation…Remember; NATO IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING! There is
hardly war that they haven’t loved… It is the nature of the beast….
He could do more than “delay” them. The US is pushing Turkey away, and Turkey is becoming more and more of a problem. But it can’t be forced out of NATO, so it has a veto.
Hopefully never.
Why? Finland would be a net benefit to NATO (as would Sweden) in almost any sense I can think of – as in it would be more difficult to get the alliance to back immoral foreign adventures and strengthen its defensive posture.
Most artillery of any European power. Plus they practically invented the sport of biathlon.
If there is one country in the world with zero fear of the 3 million? strong mighty Russian Army with the most advanced and technological weapons, that is Finland. They will stand up to Russia with or without Nukes. The Kremlin knows this hence them keeping the Finland name out of their messaging.
“I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” – Groucho Marx
Turkey wants everybody to look the other way while they slaughter the Kurds and invade Syria and Iraq. We may just do that.
And, the turks calling the Kurds “Terrorists” unilaterally makes me sick. The god dame iranins do the same with their Kurdish population.
When you ask the shee-ites for Freedom, you get called a “terrorist”. ya.
By Finland joining NATO, NATO is essentially doubling down on the cause of the invasion of Ukraine. Although Russia has said nothing about the bid, I am sure they have their objections. Russia staring at NATO accross the Finnish border cannot bring anything but problems and these will affect Turkey.
Also, remember the putsch to oust Erdogan? In my opinion, this was organized by NATO even though nobody has said anything.
In addition, the Kurds and the US occupying Syria dont make it any easier for Turkey.
It seems tome that Turkey will try to get the occupiers in Syria to withdraw before he accepts Finnland or Sweden in NATO.
https://www.politico.eu/article/putin-russia-no-problem-finland-sweden-join-nato/
Putin actually said that they/he had no problems with Sweden and Finland joining NATO – thus showing just how shallow this is as a reason for invading Ukraine (which was not on a path to join NATO – as in several NATO members would have vetoed a nation with an ongoing border conflict joining NATO.
Not sure I see the reasoning that Finland joining should make things worse for Turkey – so perhaps you could expand on this – is it that you expect that Putin will go to war with NATO?
No just no, a NATO country could have been involved in planning or organizing it, but not NATO as an organization – there is simply no way that the 29 members of NATO got together and decided to attempt a coup in Turkey.
The little Nazi UUUUURd-DOO-gone, even LOOKS like Hitler.
I’m curious, What’s your definition of Nazi?