Sweden and Finland have confirmed that they will apply to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For this to happen, all 30 members of the organization must approve the entry.

However, one of the member states said it would veto the membership of the Swedes and Finns: Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that he does not accept countries that impose sanctions on Turkey.

Sweden stopped selling weapons to the Turks three years ago after Ankara’s military intervention in the Syrian war.

According to the official Turkish news agency, both Swedes and Finns have rejected repeated requests for the extradition of Kurdish militants, which the Turkish government has designated as terrorists.

The two Scandinavian countries said they would send diplomatic delegations to discuss the issue with Turkey, but Erdogan said they didn’t even bother to travel.

Ankara accuses Scandinavians of harboring members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged an armed struggle for independence for decades.

Kurds have significant communities in Finland and Sweden. In the second country, there are descendants of Kurds in the parliament.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said he did not threaten or seek compensation.

Turkey did not provide evidence that these communities in the two Nordic countries had ties to the PKK.

Last Sunday (15/05), US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed his confidence in the integration of the Swedes and Finns, despite Turkey’s objection.

The United States encourages the entry of the two countries and must make an effort to circumvent Erdogan’s opposition.

Russia has already said there will be “consequences” for Scandinavians to approve NATO membership.

change of position

Sweden, II. It remained neutral in World War II and avoided joining military alliances for more than two centuries.

Finland has 1,300 km border with Russia. Already in 1939, it was occupied by the Soviet Union during the Winter War, which lasted for three months.

In the end, the Finns abandoned almost 10% of their territory, despite the resistance and losses faced by the Soviets in the conflict.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said he spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin about NATO membership plans.

“Both me and Finland are not known for lurking and disappearing somewhere,” Niinisto said. Said.

The Social Democrats currently in power in Sweden have said they will seek membership but do not want nuclear weapons or military bases stationed on Swedish soil.

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said NATO membership was “best for the safety of the Swedish and Swedish people”.

“Our conclusion is that military disconnection will no longer serve us in the future.”

In Sweden, the majority of the public and even opposition parties support joining the organization.