In one of the biggest shifts in European security in decades, NATO invited Helsinki and Stockholm to join the military alliance on Wednesday.
Highlights:
- Sweden and Finland to join NATO after Erdogan lifts the block.
- Russia is a direct threat, says NATO.
- Putin warns of consequences.
Sweden and Finland are officially to join NATO after the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lifted the block on Wednesday. The North Atlantic Treaty organization invited the two nations to join the military alliance amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it’s not a problem unless there is no military infrastructure deployed in Sweden or Finland.
The decision to invite Sweden and Finland came at the latest NATO summit in Madrid, Spain. Erdoğan lifted the veto over the NATO membership after he struck a deal with the American President Joe Biden. The Biden administration agreed to back the Turkish air force with possible F-16 fighter jets. The US President thanked Erdoğan for playing a vital role in trying to broker an agreement to get the stockpiles of Ukrainian grain out of the Black Sea ports. Further, the Nordic nations vowed to take measures to control Kurdish terrorism in their respective countries.
In addition, US President Joe Biden announced more land, sea, and air force deployments to mobilize Europe from further attacks. He added that a permanent army headquarters with accompanying battalions will be established in Poland.
NATO and Turkey’s opposition explained:
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a military alliance between 30 member states. Currently, 28 European and 2 North American states are a part of the intergovernmental military alliance. NATO aims to provide security and freedom and further defend its members against attacks from third parties. The military alliance was established in 1949 in response to the aftermath of World War II and the Soviet Union’s expansion.
Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952 and has the second-largest military force in the alliance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan constantly opposed Sweden and Finland’s entry into the alliance. The Nordic countries are accused of supporting the Kurdish militant groups which are deemed to be terrorist organizations by Turkey. Erdoğan stated that the two countries are home to several terrorist organizations namely Kurdistan’s Workers Party (PKK) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG). The PKK has been ruled out as a terrorist organization by the EU, the US, Turkey, and the UK. He added that the block will be lifted if the Nordic countries vowed to take the right measures to control the militant groups.
Russia a direct threat: Putin responds:
Condemning the invasion of Ukraine, the NATO leaders called Russia the most significant and direct threat. At the summit, the alliance also spoke about strengthening its forces on the eastern flank to avoid any threats. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, “President Putin’s war against Ukraine has shattered peace in Europe. It has created the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to the inclusion of new members of the NATO alliance. Condemning NATO’s imperial ambitions, Putin said that the military alliance is trying to assert supremacy using the Ukraine conflict. The Russian leader stated, “We don’t have a problem with Sweden and Finland joining the NATO alliance. They can go ahead. However, if military infrastructure and contingents are deployed there, we will respond in kind and create threats which weren’t there before”.
While the new agreement with Helsinki and Stockholm strengthens the NATO alliance, it poses a grave threat as Russia warns the nations of military consequences. Will the new alliance avert the looming war or add fuel to the burning fire?
