Sweden and Finland to sign NATO’s Ascent Protocol
Sweden and Finland are expected to sign the formal protocol for accession to NATO membership today. The two states abandoned
Sweden and Finland are expected to sign the formal protocol for accession to NATO membership today.
The two states abandoned their historical neutrality in response to the Russian invasion Ukraine and declared its intention to join NATO. At NATO summit Last week, Turkey, Finland and Sweden reached an agreement to support the latter two states’ applications for membership following Turkish concerns about their perceived support for Kurdish militants. The promotion process is lengthy due to the required parliamentary approval of tenders in all Member States. Nevertheless, cooperation between NATO and the two states has already taken place joint exercises.
The agreement means that Sweden and Finland largely accept Turkish demands to take a tougher stance against Kurdish groups in Turkey and the Middle East. Nevertheless, the breakthrough has also been linked to the United States agreeing to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, which was previously blocked due to Turkey’s purchase of Russian weapons systems. Turkey, which is meeting its demands, indicates that it has achieved more geopolitical importance both regionally and in NATO due to its strategic position in the Middle East and as a counterweight to Russia.
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