Sweden, Finland officially submit NATO memberships amid Turkish rejection
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Prompted by Russia’s war on Ukraine, Finland and Sweden formally applied to join the NATO on Wednesday, but face objections from Turkey, which considers them homes for Kurdish groups that Turkey deems terrorists.
On May 18, Finland and Sweden simultaneously handed in their official letters of application to join NATO, marking one of the biggest geopolitical consequences to date of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners,” the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, told reporters on Wednesday after receiving the application letters from the two Nordic countries’ ambassadors.
However, the two Nordic countries face staunch rejection from Turkey, a key NATO member, to join the alliance. All 30 current NATO countries must agree to open the door to new members.
At a news conference on May 16, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opposed the two countries’ bids saying “neither country has an open, clear stance against terrorist organizations.”
Turkey accuses the two Nordic nations of harboring members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group it views as a terrorist organization.
Swedish officials said they would dispatch a team of diplomats to Ankara to discuss the matter, but Erdogan suggested they were wasting their time.
Both Sweden and Finland enacted arms embargoes against Turkey following its 2019 invasion of Syria.
“During this process, we cannot say ‘yes’ to those who impose sanctions on Turkey, on joining NATO, which is a security organization.” Erdogan said.
Turkey’s objections took many Western officials by surprise and some had the impression Ankara would not let the issue spoil the NATO expansion.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg over the weekend said “Turkey has made it clear that their intention is not to block membership.”
With the applications formally submitted, the Nordic countries and their many backers now face uncertain months where any resistance to their bids needs to be overcome, with all 30 of NATO’s members needing to approve the enlargement.