In a changed security situation in Europe, the Nordic partners want to join NATO. Turkey blocks Sweden. Finland is now considering joining even without its long-time ally.
After drastic statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about Sweden’s NATO membership, Finland is open for the first time to possibly joining the alliance without its Nordic partner.
Finland may be forced to consider joining NATO without its longtime ally Sweden, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told Finnish broadcaster Yle.
Of course, with a view to the security of the two countries, moving forward together is still the absolute first option, Haavisto said. However, one must be prepared to reassess the situation if it turns out that the Swedish NATO application is stuck in the long term. It is still too early to comment on this.
In view of the burning of the Koran by an Islamophobic provocateur in Stockholm, Erdogan said on Monday evening that Sweden could not count on Turkey’s support for joining NATO. “If you don’t show respect for the Turkish Republic or the religious beliefs of the Muslims, then you can’t get any support from us on the NATO issue,” he said in Ankara. Haavisto said that such protests play with the security of Finland and Sweden.
NATO member Turkey has been blocking Sweden and Finland from joining NATO for months. Above all, she accuses Sweden of supporting “terrorist organizations” such as the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK and demands the extradition of a number of people whom Ankara regards as terrorists. All 30 NATO members have to ratify the applications for membership, 28 have already done so – only Turkey and Hungary are still missing.
Source: Stern
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