NATO bases put Finland, Sweden in danger, warns Russian Duma speakers – Other media news
“The establishment of NATO bases will make neither Finland nor Sweden safer. On the contrary, it will endanger the people living in the cities that will house military infrastructure facilities,” he said, commenting on statements by the mayor of Finland. Lappeenranta, reported TASS.
Volodin aimed at claims from Mayor Kimmo Jarva that this would create a sense of security. “He is wrong. When military activity breaks out, strikes are carried out first and foremost against the enemy’s military infrastructure,” the president of the State Duma added.
Finland and Sweden, which applied to join NATO on 18 May, were expected to receive a formal invitation to join the bloc at a NATO summit in Madrid, but Turkey blocked the accession process.
In Madrid, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Sweden and Finland signed a memorandum enabling Sweden and Finland to join the alliance.
The document contains special provisions on the two Nordic countries ‘co-operation with Ankara in the fight against terrorism, namely the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its branches.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Sweden has promised to extradite 73 people involved in terrorist activities to Turkey.