Nordic NATO bids move forward but Turkey could derail deal & More News Here

“Turkey’s statements have changed very quickly and hardened in recent days. But I am sure that we will resolve the situation with constructive talks,” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto mentioned throughout a go to to Stockholm, the Swedish capital.

The Finnish parliament on Tuesday resoundingly rubber-stamped the federal government’s choice to hunt membership in an 188-8 vote, whereas Sweden’s international minister signed a proper software letter to be handed over to the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.

But Erdogan’s objections on Friday and once more on Monday raised questions on how rapidly the applying course of could advance, as unanimity amongst all 30 NATO international locations is required for brand spanking new members to affix. The Turkish chief accused the Nordic international locations of giving protected haven to “terrorists” and imposing sanctions on Turkey — an obvious reference the suspension of Swedish and Finnish weapons exports in 2019 after Ankara despatched troops throughout the border into Syria to assault Kurdish fighters.

Erdogan additionally dismissed a Swedish plan to ship a group of diplomats to Turkey to debate the problem, saying “don’t wear yourselves out.”

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde informed home information company TT that “a series of diplomatic efforts are underway,” but declined additional remark.

Turkey’s objections appeared to have come as a shock additionally in Washington, whose relations with Ankara have been strained in recent times. The U.S. suspended Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program over Turkey’s choice to buy a Russian missile protection system.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was touring to Washington for conferences Wednesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Meanwhile, the White House introduced that President Joe Biden would meet Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson in Washington on Thursday to debate their NATO purposes “as well as strengthening our close partnerships across a range of global issues and support for Ukraine.”

Joining NATO can be an enormous shift for the 2 Nordic international locations. Sweden has stayed out of navy alliances for greater than 200 years, whereas Finland adopted neutrality after being defeated by the Soviet Union in World War II.

Russia has repeatedly warned its Nordic neighbors that their becoming a member of the alliance would have detrimental repercussions. The Swedish prime minister warned residents to brace themselves for potential disruptive strikes by Russia, together with disinformation and makes an attempt to intimidate and divide the nation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry mentioned Tuesday it was expelling two Finnish diplomats and would depart a multinational group centered on the Baltic Sea. It additionally mentioned the Finnish ambassador was learn a protest in opposition to “Finland’s confrontational course in relation to Russia,” together with its position in worldwide sanctions in opposition to Russia and arms provides to Ukraine. The assertion made no point out of NATO.

European officers expressed hope that Turkey’s objections to Finnish and Swedish membership in NATO could be overcome.

The European Union’s international coverage chief Josep Borrell mentioned the 2 international locations would “obtain robust assist, I’m certain, from all member states, as a result of it will increase our unity, and it makes us stronger.”

Luxembourg’s long-serving Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn informed Germany’s Deutschlandfunk radio that he suspects Erdogan is merely “pushing up the price” for the 2 international locations’ membership.

“At the top of the day, I’m satisfied that Turkey can’t slam the brakes on this,” he mentioned.

Turkey accuses a number of European international locations together with Sweden and Finland of supporting Kurdish militants, leftist extremists and followers of the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen who Ankara claims was behind a failed navy coup try in 2016.

Many Kurdish and different exiles have discovered refuge in Sweden over the previous many years, as have members of Gulen’s motion extra lately. According to Turkey’s state-run media, Sweden and Finland have refused to extradite 33 individuals wished by Turkey.

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Associated Press writers Jari Tanner in Helsinki, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen and Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed to this report.

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Follow AP’s protection of the struggle in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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