Sweden and Finland: the NATO integration process is launched | War in Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
NATO on Tuesday launched the process of integrating Sweden and Finland, which will see the Alliance organize a united line of defense from the Arctic to the Mediterranean against Russia. But that will have to depend on the goodwill of Ankara.
The signing of the accession protocols by the ambassadors of the thirty member countries opened on Tuesday at the headquarters of the x27;NATO, the process of ratification. I am counting on the allies for a rapid ratification, launched Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the Alliance, opting nevertheless for caution.
The last time [for North Macedonia] took 12 months, he recalled during a press conference with the foreign ministers of Sweden and of Finland, Ann Linde and Pekka Haavisto.
“Many allies have prepared for the fastest possible ratification, but this will take several months.
—Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the Alliance
Estonia will begin ratification on Wednesday, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced. But everything will depend on Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to the launch of the procedure at the Madrid summit, but reminded the two candidates of the commitments made.
“If they [Finland and Sweden] fulfill their duty, we will submit the accession protocol to the Turkish Parliament for adoption, but if they do not, it is out of order. question for us to send it to Parliament.
—Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey
Mr Erdogan referred to a promise made by Sweden to extradite 73 terrorists. Ankara has been calling for several years in Stockholm for the extradition of Kurdish activists and people close to the movement founded by the preacher Fethullah Gülen, accused by the Turkish authorities of fomenting the July coup attempt. 2016.
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde on Tuesday denied any promises made to Turkey. In Madrid, we did not talk about figures or a list of extradition requests and we did not receive a list from Turkey, she claimed.
< p class="sc-v64krj-0 knjbxw">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde as part of the NATO summit in Madrid. Ankara has lifted its objections to the entry of these two countries into the military alliance.
Ms Linde and her Finnish counterpart have also both insisted on the desire of their governments to comply with their countries' legal procedures for processing extradition requests.
Jens Stoltenberg sought to calm the game in the face of increasingly pressing questions about the commitments made in Madrid.
“The signing of the accession protocols is a historic day for Euro-Atlantic security, as the Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine challenged peace in Europe. It is important that we stand together in these dangerous times.
—Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the Alliance
The two Nordic countries have confirmed that they have renounced their neutrality and decided to join NATO because of the deterioration of the security situation in Europe caused by Russia. Our collective security requires a 360 degree approach, from the Arctic to the South, pleaded Finn Pekka Haavisto.
In Madrid, NATO reinforced its defense lines on its eastern flank, from the Baltic States to Bulgaria, as well as its naval and air presence in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The accessions of Sweden and Finland will bring considerable forces to strengthen this system in the Baltic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has tried to close the door of the system. NATO. We show it that it remains open with the accessions of Sweden and Finland, said Jens Stoltenberg.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Three other partner countries have expressed interest in joining the Alliance in recent years: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Ukraine. In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky however declared himself ready to give up this candidacy.
The signing of the accession protocols grants the status of guest country to the two Nordics. But they will not benefit from the protection of Article 5 of the NATO Charter in the event of an attack, until the 30 member countries have ratified their membership.
