Although Sweden is not yet a member of NATO, it is certain it will advance its membership during a meeting with the NATO Military Committee in Brussels. Sweden is convinced it will join NATO at the Vilnius summit in two months, says Europe correspondent Stefan de Vries.
The meeting in Brussels therefore serves as a preparation for the summit to be held in the Lithuanian capital in mid-July. “Then it’s actually not surprising that a candidate member also joins them,” says De Vries.
Sweden has been waiting for admission to NATO for months. Almost all members of the Western alliance have already accepted the Scandinavian country’s membership, but Turkey and Hungary have not yet done so. Previously, both countries had also left Finland on hold, but that resistance ended over time. For Sweden, however, we are still waiting. ‘Turkish President Erdogan is currently mainly busy with his career because the elections in Turkey are on Sunday. It is entirely possible that after his re-election, if that happens, he will eventually change course.”
“Turkey has a double role in the war in Ukraine”
US press
According to De Vries, Erdogan is blocking Sweden’s accession to put pressure on the United States. “It could be Erdogan’s diplomatic chess game. Furthermore, he has also agreed to the accession of Finland, where he has also tacked on. So maybe it will happen again now.’ Erdogan has also previously accused Sweden of being a “safe haven” for terrorists. He was referring to members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). He thinks Sweden isn’t doing enough to extradite those ‘terrorists’ to Turkey.’
The correspondent for Europe notes that Erdogan is arousing particularly resentment and annoyance at the delay. ‘Turkey is an important ally within NATO, of course you have to participate. Furthermore, Turkey now plays a dual role in the war in Ukraine. On the one hand, you are trying to keep Russia on friendly terms. But on the other hand, you are a NATO ally. This raises many question marks with other NATO members.’
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
