It will still likely take months for Finland and Sweden to officially join NATO, as their entry into the alliance needs to be ratified by all individual member states. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko traveled to Madrid to urge the alliance to provide his country with whatever it takes to stop the war. Turkey, however, says Sweden has not fulfilled all of its commitments in the agreement. On now to European affairs - the Turkish parliament has approved Finland's request to join NATO. Biden said NATO was as united and galvanized as I think we have ever been.. The decision represents a setback for Moscow, with. According to Alexander Lanoszka, assistant professor in international relations at the University of Waterloo, Finland and Sweden have long met the basic requirements for being in NATO, not least because of the strength of their democratic institutions and strong civilian control over their militaries. "Russia's unprovoked invasion has changed the way we think about world security," she added. It was a major shift of security arrangements for the two countries after neighboring Russia launched its war on Ukraine in late February. To continue browsing, NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to The troops will be based in their home nations, but dedicated to specific countries on NATOs eastern flank, where the alliance plans to build up stocks of equipment and ammunition. But as we mentioned, Turkey is not budging on Sweden's application. Moscows invasion on Feb. 24 shook European security and brought shelling of cities and bloody ground battles back to the continent. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "the alliance remains a tool . Ankara hailed the agreement as a triumph. Prior to the application, public support for NATO membership had remained steady at 20-30 percent for two decades, but a February poll suggested 82 percent were happy with the decision to join the alliance, according to the AFP news agency. There are also differences on how hard a line to take on China in NATOs new Strategic Concept its once-a-decade set of priorities and goals. Top US diplomat urges Turkey to approve Sweden accession to alliance, says Washington committed to Stockholms security. Tens of thousands of people have died in Turkey as a result of the conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK, with the PKK and its offshoots carrying out numerous attacks on military, security forces and civilians, and Turkey conducting operations in southeastern parts of the country with the aim of forcing the PKK out. As the Ukraine war rages, Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO on Wednesday, heralding an end to decades of neutrality. And he warned that it's important to finalize their membership to prevent any misunderstanding in Moscow. In summary, both are seen as adding value to NATO and its security, not weakening it.. Some members of Congress are linking Swedens accession to NATO to the moving forward on the F-16s. KELEMEN: Well, soon to be bigger. Ankara says Sweden has allowed the group to raise funds and spread its message, among other things. HELSINKI/BRUSSELS, April 4 (Reuters) - Finland formally joined NATO on Tuesday, its flag unfurling outside the military bloc's Brussels headquarters, in a historic policy shift brought on by. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan last week said Turkey's parliament would start ratifying Finland's accession but held off approving Sweden's bid. Destinee Adams and Adam Bearne contributed to this article. The two countries share about 800 miles of land border,and Finland's membership in NATO will significantly bolster security on NATO's eastern flank. Despite assurances they would be welcomed with open arms, their applications quickly ran into opposition, primarily from NATO member Turkey. STOCKHOLM, April 4 (Reuters) - Sweden's path to NATO membership remains blocked by Turkey and Hungary as neighbour Finland officially joined the 30-member alliance on Tuesday after its. Asked if the Swedish public will see the agreement as a concession on issues like extraditions of Kurdish militants regarded by Ankara as terrorists, Andersson said they will see that this is good for the security of Sweden., U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the three nations on taking a crucial step.. Turkish presidency via AP. The two countries, previously neutral, changed their minds after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, welcomes Paivi Nevala, minister counselor of the Finnish Embassy, left, and . The U.S. was hoping that they would be in by now to show a united front against Russia's war in Ukraine, but Turkey has been holding up their . He has long opposed any eastward expansion by NATO. Sweden has made some moves to address these concerns. But Turkish officials say Sweden hasn't done enough yet. Turkey's block on Sweden's NATO accession bid has nothing to do with not wanting Stockholm to join the alliance. Peter, thanks. How long the process takes can vary significantly, depending on reforms required and the ratification of accession protocols by all 30 members. That includes the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers Party, which has been in armed conflict with Turkey for decades. Ayesha Rascoe asks former U.S. ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder about the implications. Cotton was one of many citing the two nations' military strengths including Finland's experience securing its hundreds of miles of border with Russia and its well-trained ground forces, and Sweden's well-equipped navy and air force. Turkey in March ratified Finlands bid for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but still objects to Sweden joining the alliance, as does Hungary. Finland, by the way, says it will continue to press for Stockholm's accession to the military alliance. Analysts said this is highly likely despite the latest news that Turkey is opposed to the new potential members. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports. The decision has to be ratified by all individual nations, but he said he was absolutely confident Finland and Sweden would become members, something that could happen within months. Their voice and their vote in any such decisions, of course, is critical.. Accuracy and availability may vary. The US has previously blocked Turkey from acquiring F-35 fighter jets after Ankara purchased the. Russia has warned Finland and Sweden against joining Nato, arguing the move would not bring stability to Europe. Finland and Sweden will joint NATO at the same time, their prime ministers said on Friday, presenting a united front to Turkey which has raised questions about both their applications. NATO defense ministers will meet in Brussels June 15-16 . And is there any chance that Turkey might back off on that and allow them to join as well? Sweden, Finland and Turkey signed a trilateral memorandum at a NATO summit in June last year to secure the start of the accession process. Bosnia and Herzegovina are currently at this stage. And all NATO members have to vote unanimously in favour of the candidates for this to be possible. Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center's Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy Program, says that the Finnish people "have a long history of self-defense, resilience. A Swedish poll in January had 63 percent of Swedes in favour of joining the bloc. For decades, most Swedes and Finns were in favour of maintaining their policies of military non-alignment. Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO on Wednesday at Allied headquarters in Brussels, driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We cannot do both," Hawley said, calling his a "classic nationalist approach" to foreign policy. For his part, Kristersson, the Swedish prime minister, said his country is moving forward with fulfilling its pledges to its Turkish friends in accordance with the trilateral memorandum. This certainly is a blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The election coincided with protests in Stockholm, against both Erdogan and NATO, in which the flag of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), outlawed in Turkey, was projected on to the parliament building. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Turkey says it would welcome Sweden into NATO, but only if it stops giving shelter and, as Ankara puts it, also allowing propaganda platform to Kurdish militants that Turkey sees as terrorists. Amineh Kakabaveh, an independent Swedish lawmaker of Kurdish origin whose support the government depends on for a majority in Parliament, said it was worrisome that Sweden isnt revealing what promises it has given Erdogan.. Then, declarations of commitment are sent in which they agree to fulfil NATO obligations. In some cases, potential candidates must indicate a timeline if reforms are required, to meet all eligibility criteria. Sweden and Finland applied in May, setting aside their longstanding stance of military nonalignment. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. All right. There is an urgency to keep the time gap between applying to joining and actually becoming a member as short as possible for fear of Russia taking some form of action before the Article 5 security guarantee comes into force as they become members, Shepherd said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, welcomes Paivi Nevala, minister counselor of the Finnish Embassy, left, and Karin Olofsdotter, Sweden's ambassador to the U.S., on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Turkey becomes the final member to ratify Finlands application to join the bloc as Swedens path remains unclear. Speaking alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Tuesday, the top US diplomat said Sweden has been qualified to join NATO from day one and has taken significant steps to address Turkeys legitimate security concerns. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, welcomes Paivi Nevala, minister counselor of the Finnish Embassy, left, and Karin Olofsdotter, Sweden's ambassador to the U.S., on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The summit was kicking off with a leaders dinner hosted by Spains King Felipe VI at the 18th-century Royal Palace of Madrid. People stand in front of the Finnish national flag after a flag-raising ceremony at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on April 4, 2023. We have always recognised the fact that every NATO ally has to make its own decision, and only Turkey can make Turkeys decisions, and we fully respect that, he said. Stoltenberg said the meeting would chart a blueprint for the alliance in a more dangerous and unpredictable world and that meant we have to invest more in our defense, Stoltenberg said. "I look forward to welcoming Sweden as a NATO member as soon as possible, and encourage Turkiye and Hungary to conclude their ratification processes without delay. BRUSSELS President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey gave the go-ahead on Friday for Finland's application to join NATO, removing a significant hurdle for the Nordic nation's bid to join the. The agreement came at the opening of a crucial summit, dominated by Russias invasion of Ukraine, that will set the course of the alliance for the coming years. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said the agreement was good for Finland and Sweden. Turkey, in turn, agreed to support at the 2022 Madrid Summit the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO., Details of exactly what was agreed were unclear. ". Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov separately told reporters that Finland's accession to NATO was forcing Moscow to take countermeasures to ensure its security. North Macedonia, NATO's most recent newcomer nation, brought an active military of just 8,000 personnel when it joined in 2020. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images) HELSINKI Finland and. After decades of staying out of military alliances, last May Finland and neighbouring Sweden announced bids to join NATO following Russias February invasion of Ukraine. Turkey has demanded that Finland and Sweden extradite wanted individuals and lift arms restrictions imposed after Turkeys 2019 military incursion into northeast Syria. Now, here in Turkey, this has been something of a balancing act for President Erdogan. However, NATO officials have said the Nordic countries membership procedure could be completed in a couple of weeks, while Stoltenberg said both applications would be fast-tracked. This is happening now. By Thomas O Falk 18 May 2022 As the Ukraine war rages, Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO on Wednesday, heralding an end to decades of neutrality. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted his counterparts from Finland and Sweden, who are still trying to get Turkey on board with their NATO aspirations. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. The Republic of Finland became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 4 April 2023. "Enlarging NATO is exactly the opposite of what Putin envisioned when he ordered his tanks to invade Ukraine," Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Wednesday, adding that the West could not allow Russia to "launch invasions of countries.". NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the terms of the deal involved Sweden intensifying work on Turkish extradition requests of suspected fighters and amending Swedish and Finnish law to toughen their approach to them. "This historic vote sends an important signal of the sustained, bipartisan U.S. commitment to NATO, and to ensuring our Alliance is prepared to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow," Biden said in a statement Wednesday evening. MARTNEZ: All right. Congress is a fully equal and independent branch of government, he said. "He was wrong. After weeks of diplomacy and hours of talks on Tuesday, Finnish President Sauli Niinist said the three leaders had signed a joint agreement to break the logjam. Talks between Sweden and Turkey have made little progress. In President Biden's statement on Tuesday, he pointed out that both Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership at the same time, close to a year ago. Lebanon's disparate opposition, independent and main Christian parties said on Sunday they had nominated IMF official Jihad Azour for the presidency in a challenge to Hezbollah-backed candidate Suleiman Franjieh. By JILL LAWLESS and JOSEPH WILSON June 28, 2022 MADRID (AP) Turkey agreed Tuesday to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, ending an impasse that had clouded a leaders' summit opening in Madrid amid Europe's worst security crisis in decades, triggered by the war in Ukraine. show you personalized advertising. NATO's secretary-general was there recently, saying that Finland and Sweden have done their part. The agency said NATO was set to declare Russia an enemy at the summit, adding that it was publishing precise coordinates just in case.. Today, we are more united than ever.". In some cases, countries are initially invited to participate in a so-called Membership Action Plan (MAP), a sort of preparatory programme in which a state is intensively advised and supported by NATO, so that it can meet the accession requirements in the future. All members, including the candidate countries, would need to ratify their joining the Washington Treaty according to their own national procedures. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who often aligns his positions with those of the most ardent supporters of former President Donald Trump, cast the only no vote. A Russian missile strike Monday on a shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was a grim reminder of the wars horrors. Turkey has accused Sweden of providing a safe haven to members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it considers a terrorist group. Hungary and Turkey have not ratified Swedens accession, though Ankara is seen as the main hurdle. Both states are democracies with excellent democratic credentials, and both have advanced military capabilities that are already interoperable with NATO standards and states, he said. In the Strategic Concept, NATO is set to declare Russia its number one threat. The process ran into unexpected trouble when Turkey raised concerns over adding Sweden and Finland, accusing the two of being soft on banned Turkish Kurdish exile groups. If any senator is looking for a defensible excuse to vote no, I wish them good luck," McConnell said. Turkey has lifted its veto over Finland and Swedens bid to join NATO, ending a weeks-long dispute that tested the unity of the alliance against Russias invasion of Ukraine. It passed a new anti-terrorism law. MARTNEZ: But, you know, even without Sweden, I mean, it sounds like a pretty big deal, removing this final barrier to Finland's membership. Similarly, when Hungary ratified Finlands bid on March 27, Swedens was pushed until later. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Although NATOs membership process is not formalised, and the phases can vary, the first step is usually set in stone: a country must declare its interest and officially express the desire to join. Wednesday's vote by Republicans and Democrats stood out for the normally slow-moving and divided chamber. MARTNEZ: Joining us now from Istanbul to discuss Turkey's decision is NPR's Peter Kenyon. Sweden and neighbouring Finland started seeking NATO membership last year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In Sweden, a majority of legislators back the application, including those from the ruling Social Democratic Party who had for decades opposed such a move. Two versions of history collide as Finland and Sweden seek to join NATO, Turkey has dropped its objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO. To initiate official accession talks, Sweden and Finland must be invited by NATO. Sweden and neighbouring Finland started seeking NATO membership last year after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. If Sweden is accepted into the alliance it will end two centuries of military non-alignment for the country. Sweden and Finland are both joining Nato - a monumental shift for two nations with a long history of wartime neutrality and staying out of military alliances. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Finland remained militarily non-aligned. But doubts remain whether this ambitious timeline is feasible, given the formalities involved. he pointed out that both Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership at the same time, close . Finland and Sweden also agreed not to impose embargo restrictions in the field of defence industry on Turkey and to take concrete steps on the extradition of terrorist criminals. U.S. State and Defense officials consider the two countries net "security providers," strengthening NATO's defense posture in the Baltics in particular. One of Russias stated reasons for invading Ukraine was its opposition to possible NATO expansion. Biden says Sweden will soon join NATO at US Air Force address, NATO membership impossible before end of Russia war: Zelenskyy. In a statement, President Joe Biden praised the addition of Finland to NATO, and pointed out it was the fastest ratification process in NATO's modern history. TOBIAS BILLSTROM: We have done a lot. MADRID (AP) Turkey agreed Tuesday to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, ending an impasse that had clouded a leaders summit opening in Madrid amid Europes worst security crisis in decades, triggered by the war in Ukraine. However, for Sweden and Finland, membership is relatively straightforward, Alistair Shepherd, senior lecturer in European Security at Aberystwyth University, told Al Jazeera. Biden encouraged their joining and welcomed the two countries' government heads to the White House in May, standing side by side with them in a display of U.S. backing. "We can do more in Europe devote more resources, more firepower or do what we need to do to deter Asia and China. All members of NATO have to agree to allow new countries into the bloc. On Tuesday, Blinken said the Biden administration does not see the $20bn F-16 deal and Swedens NATO bid as connected, but he warned that some US lawmakers do. WASHINGTON NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that the world's most powerful military alliance reached a deal to admit Sweden and Finland after resolving the concerns of. The Nordic neighbours were originally adamant they wanted to join the alliance together, agreeing to submit their applications at the same time. Senators voted down a proposed amendment by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., intended to ensure that NATO's guarantee to defend its members does not replace a formal role for Congress in authorizing the use of military force. Speaking to the Senate, McConnell cited Finland's and Sweden's well-funded, modernizing militaries and their experience working with U.S. forces and weapons systems, calling it a "slam-dunk for national security" of the United States. During a Nato summit in. "Their accession will make NATO stronger and America more secure. Schumer, D-N.Y., said he and McConnell had committed to the country's leaders that the Senate would approve the ratification resolution "as fast as we could" to bolster the alliance "in light of recent Russian aggression.". But there are 30 parliaments that need to approve this and you never know, Andersson told the Associated Press. NATO, which had begun to turn its focus to terrorism and other non-state threats, has had to confront an adversarial Russia once again. The two . Sweden adopted an official policy of neutrality after the 19th-century Napoleonic wars, which was amended to one of military non-alignment following the end of the Cold War. Neutral throughout the Cold War, Sweden's and Finland's decision to join NATO is one of the most significant changes in Europe's security architecture in decades, not least because Finland shares . But the official said the U.S. played a crucial role in helping bring the two parties closer together, and Biden spoke with Erdogan Tuesday morning at the behest of Sweden and Finland to help encourage the talks. The announcement of an agreement cements the biggest shift in European security in decades, as the Nordic countries abandon their decades-long neutrality to enter the military alliance. Turkey's objections still threaten the two countries' membership. With Turkey becoming the final and 30th member to ratify Finlands bid on Thursday, the Finns are expected to finalise their membership in the coming days, while Sweden continues to face opposition. Andersson dismissed suggestions Sweden and Finland had conceded too much. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, like Hawley a potential 2024 presidential contender, rebutted his points without naming his potential Republican rival. Secretary Blinken hosted his counterparts from Finland and Sweden, saying those countries are ready to bring their strengths to the NATO alliance. But then, every existing NATO member state must ratify Sweden and Finlands membership application, noted Shepherd. Stoltenberg said leaders of the 30-nation alliance will issue a formal invitation to the two countries to join on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Finland decided to move forward, even if it meant leaving Sweden behind. Turkey says Sweden has been harboring Kurdish activists that the Turkish government calls terrorists. For instance, the latest NATO member, North Macedonia, received its invitation in July 2018 and officially joined on March 27, 2020 almost two years later. Stoltenbergs talks in Istanbul with Erdogan took place a week after Erdogan extended his two-decade rule in an election. WASHINGTON U.S. But Wednesday's approval from nearly all senators present carried added foreign policy weight in light of Russia's war. U.S. Senate approves Finland and Sweden for membership into NATO. For the first time, the leaders of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand are attending the summit as guests. However, Russias invasion of Ukraine last year sparked sharp U-turns. Whether a country meets the requirements is assessed at the beginning of accession talks with NATO. Among its many shattering consequences, President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine has prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status and apply to join NATO as protection against an increasingly aggressive and unpredictable Russia which shares a long border with Finland. The Russian embassy in Sweden this week threatened both Sweden and Finland with retaliation if they join NATO. NATO operates by consensus, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to block the Nordic pair, insisting they change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Turkey has said Stockholm harbors members of militant groups it considers to be terrorists. MARTNEZ: That's NPR's Peter Kenyon in Istanbul. They're "two of the strongest members of the alliance the minute they join," Cotton said. Amid speculation about a U.S. role in ending the deadlock, a senior administration official said Washington did not offer any concessions to Turkey to coax it to accept a deal. Wednesday's 95-1 vote for the candidacy of two Western European nations that, until Russia's war against Ukraine, had long avoided military alliances took a crucial step toward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its 73-year-old pact of mutual defense among the United States and democratic allies in Europe. Finland got Mr. Erdogan's approval in March to join NATO by making relatively minor policy changes, including tightening its antiterrorism laws and lifting an arms embargo on Turkey. President Joe Biden, who has been the principal player rallying global economic and material support for Ukraine, has sought quick entry for the two previously non-militarily aligned northern European nations. The US-led alliance has a collective defence pact, meaning an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. NATO defense ministers will meet in Brussels June 15-16. Hawley took the Senate floor to call European security alliances a distraction from what he called the United States' chief rival China, not Russia. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. The new concept is expected to set out NATOs approach on issues from cybersecurity to climate change and the growing economic and military reach of China, and the rising importance and power of the Indo-Pacific region. Asked about Swedens chances of becoming a NATO member before a mid-July NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Stoltenberg said there was time. Here are five things to know about the two countries membership bids, and why Swedens bid is lagging. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Istanbul, Turkey, June 4, 2023. It applied in May 2022. . Hungary is holding up Swedens admission, citing grievances over criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orbans policies. Finland could become a member of the alliance in the coming days. "When Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, he thought he could divide Europe and NATO," Biden said. Sweden's parliament on Wednesday formally approved a bill to allow the country to join NATO when its application has been ratified by all 30 members of the alliance, a process where it remains . The last document, published in 2010, didnt mention China at all. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. NATO says these criteria include a functioning democratic political system based on a market economy; fair treatment of minority populations; a commitment to resolve conflicts peacefully; an ability and willingness to make a military contribution to NATO operations; and a commitment to democratic civil-military relations and institutions.. Sweden says that's not possible, but it's willing to work with Ankara to see what they can do to resolve the issue. In this case, Sweden and Finland will then have to meet the criteria set out in the alliances 1995 Study on Enlargement. And Russia isn't happy about this. KELEMEN: They're also fulfilling Turkey's demands. "Both countries are strong democracies with highly capable militaries, who share our values and vision for the world," President Biden said. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Finland raced to join NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. Finland President Sauli Niinist tweeted after Turkeys decision: We look forward to welcoming Sweden to join us as soon as possible.. The Turkish presidents office said that Turkey had got what it wanted from the deal, and that it meant full cooperation with Turkey in the fight against the PKK and its affiliates, including the YPG. Finland's parliament had. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Both fulfil the political, military and economic requirements. A senior US administration official told Reuters that Turkey had not linked its longstanding request for American F-16 fighter jets to secure the deal. Spain, which is hosting the summit, spends just half that. Congress can veto arms deals approved by the administration, though it has never successfully blocked weapon sales to foreign countries. Hungary's Parliament still needs to ratify their membership and plan to do that in February. The U.S. and its European allies have rallied with newfound partnership in the face of Putin's military invasion, as well as the Russian leader's sweeping statements this year condemning NATO, issuing veiled reminders of Russia's nuclear arsenal and asserting Russia's historical claims to territory of many of its neighbors. But the process has been held up by Turkey, which along with Hungary has yet to ratify the memberships. March 17, 2023 at 12:28 p.m. EDT Gift Article When NATO invited Sweden and Finland into the military alliance in June, its leaders hailed a "historic decision" that showed their collective. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. KENYON: Well, Sweden says it accepts Finland's decision to join NATO on its own. "It goes without saying that we will be able to become members by Vilnius," he said just ahead of the vote. A NATO foreign ministers meeting in Berlin on Sunday promised a swift process. Beneath the surface, there are tensions within NATO over how the war will end and what, if any, concessions Ukraine should make to end the fighting. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. It applied in May 2022. I congratulated Erdogan. The bill was passed as expected with an overwhelming majority - 296 in favour and 37 votes against - with the small Left Party and Greens the only parties opposing the proposal. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. As such, the process for joining should be speedier and thus smoother than what might have been the case with those countries that were under communist rule during the Cold War.. Finland and Sweden. ANTONY BLINKEN: We know that he's failed at weakening our alliance. People stand in front of the Finnish national flag after a flag-raising ceremony at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on April 4, 2023. Finland and Sweden are still waiting to join NATO. According to the Associated Press, NATO officials have said the process could take mere weeks. August 23, 2022 US-FINLAND-SWEDEN-NATO. While NATO members cemented the accession of Finland this spring, Turkey and Hungary have so far declined to ratify Sweden's membership. Dan Sabbagh in Madrid Tue 28 Jun 2022 15.42 EDT Last modified on Thu 30 Jun 2022 06.10 EDT A last minute agreement has been reached between Turkey, Finland and Sweden to allow the two Nordic. The embassy posted a message on its Facebook page saying, quote, "If anyone believes that this will improve Europe's security, you can be sure that the new members of the hostile bloc will become a legitimate target for Russia's retaliatory measures, including military ones.". Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. The process will still take several months, and NATO as an institution will accept their applications at their summit at the end of June in Madrid. Finland became the newest member of NATO today, as the country's flag - a blue cross on a white background - was raised over the defense alliance's headquarters in Brussels. please click OK, I Accept. But some analysts warn that European states become less self-reliant once they enter NATO, and more reliant on the US military capabilities. ", As a result, she says, they bring a long view to NATO that is "a lot of other European states could learn from.". On Monday, Russia promised to strengthen military capacity in its western and northwestern regions in response to NATO's expansion. Wake up, guys. Turkey said it had got what it wanted including full cooperation in the fight against the rebel groups. Both Finland and Sweden are set to join the NATO alliance this year. Stoltenberg said NATOs leaders would issue a formal invitation to Finland and Sweden to join on Wednesday. Finland's foreign minister, Pekka Haavisto, told NPR outside the State Department today that he's hoping Turkey won't put this off until after their elections next year. Both have the resources to contribute to NATOs budget. Emma Ashford of the Stimson Center points out that this is a problem for the military operations of Finland and Sweden, since they have long had integrated defense cooperation. Stoltenberg also said that Sweden and Finland would lift their restrictions on selling weapons to Turkey. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Finland shares a 832 mile border with Russia. He said the next round of talks between officials from Finland, Sweden and Turkey would be in the week of June 12, but did not specify when. That included arguing against Hawley's contention a bigger NATO would mean more obligations for the U.S. military, the world's largest. And Sweden's foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, says his country has taken other steps laid out in a deal with Turkey. Some European members are wary of the tough U.S. line on Beijing and dont want China cast as an opponent. President Erdogan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has a list of more than 100 people he wants Sweden to deport back to Turkey to face charges. The U.S. was hoping that they would be in by now to show a united front against Russia's war in Ukraine, but Turkey has been holding up their membership and trying to get concessions, including a tougher line against Kurdish militants. Jonas Gratzer/Getty Images. Russias state space agency, Roscosmos marked the summits opening by releasing satellite images and coordinates of the Madrid conference hall where it is being held, along with those of the White House, the Pentagon and the government headquarters in London, Paris and Berlin. Turkey has raised important and legitimate concerns. "It's going to add technical challenges as NATO's defense planners try and bring Finland into all of the alliance's strategic planning," Ashford said. Since Finlands parliament has already approved the application, all it needs to do now that all ratifications have been secured is deposit an instrument of accession in Washington to finalise the membership. JOHN THYS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images In June of last year, Turkey, Sweden and Finland signed a so-called trilateral memorandum to address Ankaras grievances about banned armed groups. He still wants to work on something on the F-16s. Erdogan's also running for reelection in May, and there's some speculation here that his tough stand on Sweden's NATO bid could change after the vote. Ankara demanded that the Nordic countries stop supporting Kurdish armed groups, such as the PKK, and lift their bans on the sales of some arms to Turkey. PETER KENYON, BYLINE: Well, this was a victory for NATO, which has been looking forward to welcoming both Finland and Sweden into the alliance. This accession brings NATO right up to that Russian border, and that has prompted threats from Moscow. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. All rights reserved. NATO was established in 1949 as a defence alliance with the primary aim of confronting the Soviet Union, and is still viewed as a threat by Russia. Biden is expected to meet Erdogan during the summit. Finland has been approved as a member of NATO after Turkey voted on its membership Thursday. Regardless of Swedens NATO status, Blinken added on Tuesday, the US will back its security. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in mid-March asked parliament to ratify Finlands bid, but delayed Swedens following a litany of disputes. Both Finland and Sweden had applied for NATO membership following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, but Sweden's application has been blocked by Turkey and Hungary. Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine, From left to right background: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finland's President Sauli Niinisto, Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, and Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde sign a memorandum in which Turkey agrees to Finland and Sweden's membership of the defense alliance in Madrid, Spain on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the war in Ukraine has been a strategic failure for Russian President Vladimir Putin. From the perspective of the United States, the time is now to finalise Swedens accession, Blinken told reporters in the northern Swedish city of Lulea. Finland, by the way, says it will continue to press for Stockholm's accession to the military alliance. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden, so lets get that done, Biden told reporters on Monday. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the State Department. The YPG has been backed by many Western nations in the fight against ISIL (ISIS). Finland raced to join NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. Under NATO treaties, an attack on any member would be considered an attack against all and trigger a military response by the entire alliance. Turkey surprised its NATO allies when it initially opposed Finland and Swedens bid to join the alliance. After Finland and Sweden made their NATO intentions clear, Moscow has threatened retaliatory steps. Negotiations between the countries were temporarily suspended in early 2023, after protests, involving both the burning of the Quran and a mock hanging of an effigy of Erdogan, were staged in Stockholm. BRUSSELS Spurred by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden applied last month to join NATO, anticipating swift and smooth entry into the alliance . It is likely to be late 2022 at the earliest when this is complete, he added. Bids to join NATO must be ratified by all members of the alliance. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Johan Ahlander and Simon Johnson; editing by Niklas Pollard, Russia says it thwarted major Ukrainian offensive, killed hundreds, Russian statement on what it says was a major Ukrainian attack, Exclusive: World's spy chiefs meet in secret conclave in Singapore, Saudi pledges big oil cuts in July as OPEC+ extends deal into 2024, Lebanese Christian and opposition coalition nominate IMF's Azour for president, Thai PM frontrunner promises same-sex marriage, gender identity rights, Armenia says peace deal with Azerbaijan possible by year end, TASS reports, Zelenskiy says Russia is evading sanctions on weapons, Ardern receives New Zealand top honour for leadership during COVID, mosque attack. Sweden is still waiting to join. It's the last step needed to seal Finland's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. But it's hardly an ideal circumstance.". Adding Finland to NATO will more than double the size of NATO's border with Russia; and it will double security on the border. hide caption. 31 Mar 2023 After decades of staying out of military alliances, last May Finland and neighbouring Sweden announced bids to join NATO following Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. All rights reserved. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, increase the strength of the alliances rapid reaction force. The US-led alliance has a collective defence pact, meaning an attack on . Copyright 2023 NPR. Similarly, Hungary's legislature said the same day it would vote on ratification of Finland's accession on March 27, but not Sweden's. Mar 4, 2022 Sweden's supreme commander Gen. Micael Bydn, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Sweden's Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist and Finlands Minister of Defense Antti. They also spoke about Turkeys push to buy F-16s, a model of US fighter jet. So what are the Swedes saying about this? At the ceremony, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced, "For almost 75 years, this great alliance has shielded our nations and continues to do so today. By Gerard O'Dwyer Dec 29, 2022 Swedish soldiers attend a field exercise on the country's island of Gotland on May 17, 2022. Turkey, Sweden and Finland will meet later this month to try to overcome objections that have delayed Swedens NATO membership bid, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sweden in particular has faced objections from Turkey, which says Stockholm harbours members of what Turkey considers terrorist groups - a charge Sweden denies - and has demanded their extradition as a step towards giving Sweden's NATO membership the go-ahead. 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