Sweden, Finland is more important than being together | – #Sweden #Finland #important
BRUSSELS, February 14 (Reuters) – NATO It is more important that Finland and Sweden’s requests to join the alliance be ratified quickly rather than together for greater security after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine last year, its head said Tuesday.
Kyiv of the Scandinavian countries the president Proposals to join the 30-member alliance arming against Vladimir Putin’s army have been ratified by all but Hungary and Turkey.
Turkey the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan Especially to Sweden’s appeal protest because there are members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara calls terrorists.
Western officials said that both countries NATOwill prefer to be members together, partly because they are at the same time military it will be easier to integrate into structures.
But who met with defense ministers in Brussels NATOGeneral Secretary Jens Stoltenberg suggested that it was secondary.
“The main question is not whether Finland and Sweden will ratify together. The main issue is to ratify both of them as full members as soon as possible,” he told reporters.
Latest UpdatesEuropeCategory Ukrainian who has been at war for a year Zelensky challenges Putin against the odds, article with galleryGalleryMiddle EastcategoryTurkey Erdogan vows to rebuild after earthquake, rescues suspended, article with gallery
See 2 more stories
“I am confident that both will become full members and I am working hard for both to be ratified as soon as possible.”
Two new members of NATO on its northeastern flank Russia will strengthen its authority at an important moment when it is in conflict with
“THE DESIRE OF BOTH COUNTRIES”
Sweden and Finland have long been non-aligned, but now want NATO’s collective defense clause preserved.
of Finland Russia has a 1,300 km (810 mi) border with and the Swedish island of Gotland is 300 km (186 mi) from the home of Russia’s Baltic Fleet in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a press conference in Stockholm that “obvious” reasons, such as the already close defense cooperation between Sweden and Finland, made it more appropriate to come together.
“This is what both countries want,” he said.
“But none of these are from Turkey Turkey it does not change the fact that it makes decisions… the question lies with Turkey itself”.
During a visit to Stockholm on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she hoped the two potential members could still unite quickly and “hand in hand” given Sweden’s response to Turkey’s concerns.
Stoltenberg said that Sweden and Finland have become closer to NATO in recent months and noted that all alliance members have approved the membership invitation.
Reporting by Andrew Gray, Niklas Pollard in Stockholm, Additional reporting by Rachel More in Berlin report; Edited by William Maclean and Emelia Sithole-Matarise
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-02-15 13:50:25
Source – reuters
Translation“24 HOURS”