On November 3, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged Turkey to approve Finland and Sweden’s membership application, claiming the two Nordic nations have upheld their security obligations to Ankara.
In the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden abandoned their long-standing military nonalignment policies and applied to join NATO.
If the Nordic neighbours don’t agree to Turkey’s demands, which are already part of the Western alliance, the process will be stopped. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party sympathisers and those suspected of planning the failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016 are among the people the Turkish government wants them to target in particular.
“Finland and Sweden have delivered on their commitment to Turkey. They have become strong partners in our joint fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” Stoltenberg told reporters in Istanbul after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
“It’s time to welcome Finland and Sweden as full members of NATO. Their accession will make our alliance stronger and our people safer,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. “In these dangerous times, it’s even more important to finalize their accession, to prevent any misunderstanding or miscalculation in Moscow.”
The timing for admitting the nations as new members, according to Mr. Cavusoglu, would depend on whether Turkey’s requirements, which were set forth in a joint memorandum, were satisfied.
“We want to see concrete steps,” the minister said, especially in combatting extremists.
He continued, reiterating that Turkey supports NATO’s enlargement, “It’s not realistic to state right now that the two nations have totally implemented all provisions of the memorandum.”
According to Mr. Cavusoglu, Turkey views the new Swedish government as “more resolute” to uphold the terms of the Madrid Memorandum. Ulf Kristersson, the incoming Swedish prime minister, will travel to Ankara on November 8th, he said.
The accession treaty must be formally ratified by all 30 NATO members before Finland and Sweden may join the alliance. Only Hungary’s and Turkey’s parliaments have not yet done this.
