The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) opened its doors to two new Nordic allies, Sweden and Finland on Tuesday, despite the successful completion of the process they depend on Turkeywhich awaits the fulfillment of the agreements to revoke its veto.

In a private ceremony, the ambassadors of the NATO countries the ratification process formally started of the accession of Swedes and Finns, with the signing of the protocols at the headquarters of the alliance, in Brussels.

“It’s a good day for Sweden and Finland, and a good day for NATO,” said the secretary general of the powerful transatlantic military alliance, Jens Stoltenberg.

The official added that the signing of the protocols “marks the beginning of the ratification process” of the requests for membership.

It represents the entry of Sweden and Finland, two countries that have maintained a policy of association with the alliance a clear strategic strengthening of NATO in the region of Arctic, in a context of worsening tensions with Russia.

a cloud of uncertainty

However, the entire accession process of Sweden and Finland is under a thick cloud of uncertainty due to the position of Turkey, which threatens to exercise its right of veto.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto thanked “the alliance’s support for Finland’s accession and we look forward to a swift ratification process“.

In turn, the Swedish Foreign Minister, Ann Linde, said that “the signing of the accession protocols is an important step towards our full membership. The next stage will be the process of ratification in each of the allied countries“.

When Sweden and Finland announced their intention to join NATO, Turkey – a crucial member of the military alliance – vetoed it.

Turkey argues that Sweden offers a safe haven for the people the Turkish government considers “terrorists” and the two countries also adopt sanctions against Ankara for its military participation in Syria.

As part of the summit that NATO held in Madrid at the end of June, Turkey accepted to allow the signing of the protocols but presented a list of requirements the two candidates to permanently revoke the veto.

After the signing of the protocols on Tuesday, the accession must be ratified unanimously in the parliaments of each of the 30 countries of the alliance.

Turkish President Recep Teyyip Erdogan announced that the case of Sweden and Finland not conform with what his government agreed in Madrid will make the veto effective, which would derail the whole process.

According to Erdoğan, Sweden agreed to extradite Turkish citizens considered “terrorists” by the government of Ankara to Turkey.

it could be quite 73 people.

“A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Sweden, Finland and Turkey. E we will honor this understanding“said Chancellor Linde, who added that possible extraditions they must follow the legal path of their country.

Moments after this ceremony, the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, announced on Twitter that he had invited his country’s parliament to vote on the ratification of membership this Wednesday.

AFP

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