NATO will do its utmost to get Finland and Sweden through an accelerated membership process, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana told DW.
According to Mircea Geoana , Finland and Sweden are already two of NATO’s closest partners . “There is no need to mention the excellent democratic process, the high level capabilities of the armies of these countries and the fact that both countries have a very high level of interaction with NATO. They would add value to their security.” “, our security and the security of the transatlantic community in general,” he said.
Sweden’s ruling party backs NATO membership bid
Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats have said they support the country’s NATO membership. By pro-NATO membership the Social Democrats form a large majority in the Swedish parliament in favor of membership.
Following the Russian occupation of Ukraine, the Swedish Social Democratic Party relinquished decades of opposition to NATO membership.
“Today the Swedish Social Democratic Party took a historic decision to say yes to the application for NATO membership,” wrote Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde on Twitter after the party’s meeting on Sunday (May 15).
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will seek broad support in parliament on Monday (16.05) for her bid to join NATO.
Anderson told a news conference that he was convinced the Riksdag had broad parliamentary support for Sweden’s application for membership.
Finland ready to apply for NATO membership
On Sunday, Sweden’s neighbor and close ally Finland confirmed that it would apply for NATO membership.
Both countries remained neutral for decades, but the Russian occupation of Ukraine changed the feelings of the population in these countries regarding security.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg does not expect any delays due to Turkey’s reserves. Turkey has made it clear that it will not block the membership of Finland and Sweden in the alliance, Stoltenberg said at the end of the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin. “So I am confident that in terms of reservations expressed by Turkey, we will be able to act in such a way that there are no delays in the membership process,” said Stoltenberg, who due to an infection participated through video- conference at this meeting.
Turkish Foreign Minister: Sweden provokes
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu praised Findland’s conciliatory stance in Berlin, but criticized Sweden for “provocative” statements during the Berlin talks. “The statements of the Swedish Foreign Minister are unfortunately not constructive. She continues to make provocative remarks,” Cavusoglu told reporters. The minister used conciliatory tones in addressing Finland, which in the background of “Ankara reserves has maintained a respectful stance”, he said. “While we do not see the same attitude in Sweden,” he stressed.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized both countries. They serve as a “safe haven for PKK terrorists”, the Kurdish Workers’ Party, which has been blacklisted by both Turkey and the European Union and the United States.
