The “neutral” Europe withdraws when Finns and Swedes go against NATO – The Journal
When Finland and Sweden take action to join NATO, the list of “neutral” countries in Europe seems ready to shrink
BERLIN (AP) – When Finland and Sweden take action to join NATO, the list of “neutral” countries in Europe seems ready to shrink.
Like the two Nordic countries, other nations joined the European Union for its promise of economic and political unity without taking part in the East-West divide that has existed since the end of the Cold War.
But security concerns over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine changed the calculation for Finland and Sweden, which have long advocated neutrality and led other traditionally “neutral” countries to reconsider what that term really means to them. Finland said that they will decide on NATO membership in the coming days, while Sweden can follow suit because public opinion in the two Nordic countries has swelled in favor of membership.
While EU members are determined to come to each other’s defense in the event of an external attack, the promise has largely remained on paper as NATO’s power overshadows the bloc’s own notions of collective defense.
Nevertheless, Turkey can still pour cold water on NATO’s ambitions for both Finland and Sweden. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of the NATO member, said that his country “is not of a positive opinion” about the idea due to alleged Nordic land support to Kurdish militants and others whom Turkey considers terrorists.
“This is the key to neutrality: it means different things to different people,” says historian Samuel Kruizinga at the University of Amsterdam.
Here is a look at some countries that have inscribed “neutrality” in their laws or generally considered themselves neutral in the agreement between the United States and Russia and their respective affiliates. Austria, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta are EU members that have not joined NATO, and Switzerland has stayed out of both.
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland, without a doubt the most famous neutral country in Europe, has enshrined neutrality in its constitution and Swiss voters decided decades ago to stay out of the EU. But in recent weeks, its government has made efforts to explain its concept of neutrality after backing EU sanctions against Russia – and Swiss neutrality is being analyzed almost daily in local media these days.
There is little chance that Switzerland will deviate further from its neutrality: its government has already asked Germany not to send Swiss military equipment to Ukraine.
The populist right-wing party, which holds the largest bloc of seats in parliament, has been hesitant about further action against Russia, and the Swiss strongly protect its role as a mediator for rival states and as a hub for humanitarian and human rights measures. Neutrality helps to refine that reputation.
AUSTRIA
Austria’s neutrality is a key component of its modern democracy: as a condition of Allied forces to leave the country and its ability to regain independence in 1955, Austria declared itself militarily neutral.
Since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Chancellor Karl Nehammer has struck a fine balance when it comes to Austria’s position. He has argued that the country has no plans to change its security status, while declaring that military neutrality does not necessarily mean moral neutrality – and that Austria strongly condemns Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
IRELAND
Ireland’s neutrality has long been a bit of a gray area. Prime Minister Micheal Martin summed up the country’s position earlier this year as: “We are not politically neutral, but we are militarily neutral.”
The war in Ukraine has resumed the debate on what Ireland’s neutrality means. Ireland has imposed sanctions on Russia and sent non-lethal aid to Ukraine in response to the invasion.
Ireland has joined EU battle groups – part of the bloc’s efforts to harmonize its military.
Kruizinga, who has contributed to a Cambridge History of the First World War on neutrality, suggested that the more EU and NATO memberships are similar, the better it is for the bloc “to present itself as a geopolitical power.”
MALTA
Malta’s constitution states that the small Mediterranean island is officially neutral and follows a policy of “freedom of alliance and refuses to join any military alliance.” A survey commissioned by the Foreign Ministry published two weeks before Russia’s invasion showed that a large majority of those polled supported neutrality – and only 6 percent were against it.
The Times of Malta reported on Wednesday that during a state visit, Ireland’s Higgins emphasized the idea of ”positive” neutrality and joined Maltese President George Vella in condemning the war in Ukraine.
CYPRUS
Cyprus’ relations with the United States have grown significantly over the past decade, but all ideas of NATO membership remain off the table – at least for now.
The president of the ethnically divided island nation said on Saturday that “it is far too early” to even consider such a move that would always face rival Turkey’s strong opposition.
Many Cypriots – especially those on the political left – continue to blame NATO for the de facto partition of the island after Turkish forces invaded in the mid-1970s. Turkey was a NATO member at the time – and the alliance did nothing to prevent military action.
The loyal NATO member Britain has two sovereign military bases in Cyprus, which hosts a sophisticated listening post on the East Coast co-operated by US personnel.
Cyprus also wants to maintain a veneer of neutrality and has allowed Russian warships to support themselves in Cypriot ports, even though that privilege was revoked after the war in Ukraine began.
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Menelaus Hadjicostis of Nicosia, Cyprus; Jill Lawless in London; Emily Schultheis in Vienna; and Frances D’Emilio in Rome contributed to this report.
FIL – Flags flutter in the wind outside NATO headquarters in Brussels on February 7, 2022. When Finland and Sweden take action to join NATO, the list of “neutral” countries in Europe seems ready to shrink. Security concerns over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine changed the calculation for Finland and Sweden, which had long advocated neutrality, and prompted other traditionally “neutral” countries to reconsider what that term really means to them. (AP Photo / Olivier Matthys, Archive)
FIL – Finnish soldiers take part in the army’s mechanized exercise Arrow 22 at the Niinisalo garrison in Kankaanpaa, western Finland, on May 4, 2022. Security concerns over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine changed the calculation for Finland and Sweden, which has long advocated neutrality “countries to reconsider what that term really means to them. (Heikki Saukkomaa./Lehtikuva via AP, file)
FIL – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receives a standing ovation when he speaks to the Swedish Parliament via video link, in Stockholm on March 24, 2022. Security concerns over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine changed the calculation for Finland and Sweden which has long advocated neutrality and caused others traditionally “neutral “countries to reconsider what that term really means to them. (Paul Wennerholm / TT News Agency via AP, file)
ENVIRONMENT – Protesters gather during a demonstration against NATO membership outside the ruling Social Democratic Party’s office in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 14, 2022. neutral “countries to reconsider what that term really means to them. (Anders Wiklund / TT via AP, Archive)
FIL – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, attends a media conference with Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, left, and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, right, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 24 January 2022. Security concerns over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine changed the calculation and Sweden, which has long advocated neutrality and got other traditionally “neutral” countries to reconsider what that term really means to them. (AP Photo / Olivier Matthys, Archive)