Jens Stoltenberg: Sweden and Finland could join NATO this year
Sweden and Finland could join NATO this year - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. According to him, the decision depends on the Turkish and Hungarian parliaments which so far have not given their consent, reports Agerpres.
The accession of these two countries to NATO would significantly contribute to the strengthening of regional security and at the same time deter Russia in its actions near the Northern Flank of the Alliance. Hungary and especially Turkey block the accession of the two Nordic countries to NATO. Last July, Turkey, Finland and Sweden agreed on a joint memorandum outlining how they can step up their cooperation, both in terms of arms exports and, for example, in the fight against terrorism. reminded Jens Stoltenberg. According to him, Finland and Sweden have respected this agreement and have clearly committed to have long-term cooperation with Turkey on these matters. Consequently, the time has come for the completion of the accession process and the ratification of the accession protocol, said the NATO Secretary General. The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO would significantly contribute to the strengthening of regional security, implicitly of the Nordic Flank of the Alliance, security expert Elena Mârzac told Radio Moldova. According to her, this year a compromise could be found between the countries aspiring to join NATO and the opposing ones – Turkey and Hungary. "Sweden and Finland have strong military capabilities and decades of experience in security and defense cooperation with the US and NATO in general. Their membership in NATO will significantly contribute to the strengthening of regional security. Turkey and Hungary oppose these memberships, in the middle is the history with the Kurdish rebels who are sheltered in Sweden, they are trying to find solutions through different diplomatic channels. Hungary declared, this year will be the approval from Hungary", declared Elena Mârzac. We remind you that Sweden and Finland applied to join the North Atlantic Alliance on May 18 last year. The intention of these two Scandinavian countries to become members of the Alliance comes amid security concerns in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia has previously warned them not to do so, even threatening a "technical military response" if they do. Two things are being considered - a strengthening of the borders by moving troops and missiles closer to the West and, possibly, an intensification of cyber attacks on Scandinavia, the international media wrote.
