Sweden and Finland have formally applied to join the Nato military alliance, confirming a major redrawing of Europe’s security landscape caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the headquarters of the US-led defence alliance in Brussels, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Nordic neighbours’ membership applications, each in a white folder imprinted with their … Read more
BRUSSELS: After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended decades of military non-alignment, Finland and Sweden submitted their applications to join the US-led alliance NATO on Wednesday. “The applications you have made today are an historic step. Allies will now consider the next steps on your path to NATO, ” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg remarked after … Read more
Germany will ramp up its military collaboration with Sweden and Finland as the two countries seek NATO membership in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday. “We will intensify our military cooperation, especially in the Baltic Sea region and through joint exercises,” Scholz said amid concern for the two candidates’ … Read more
Finland’s lawmakers overwhelmingly approved joining NATO as a deterrence to Russian aggression on Tuesday, opening the way for a combined application with Sweden to be presented in the coming days. After a long debate that lasted over a day and a half, 188 of Finland’s 200 lawmakers voted in favour of NATO membership, reversing the … Read more
Russia may soon cut gas supplies to Finland due to the Nordic country’s refusal to pay Gazprom in rubles, according to the Finnish state-owned Gasum on Tuesday. Gasum said it would take its dispute with Gazprom Export to arbitration, risking further enraged Russia as Helsinki prepares to submit its NATO membership bid on Wednesday. “Gasum … Read more
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced during a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in Stockholm that Finland and Sweden will submit their NATO application on Wednesday. “Democracy has won,” Niinistö said. “This whole spring has been a triumph for democracy in Finland” he said. He referred to the overwhelming support Finland’s NATO … Read more
Libya’s war-torn capital Tripoli witnessed its bloodiest fighting in nearly two years On Tuesday, as a prime minister appointed by the country’s parliament attempted to depose an interim premier. While Fathi Bashagha’s forces eventually withdrew, the incident served as a reminder of the North African country’s precarious state and the difficulty of establishing a government … Read more
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s opposition to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, accusing them of failing to take a firm stance against terrorism. “We will not say ‘yes’ to those (countries) who apply sanctions to Turkey to join the security organization NATO,” Erdogan said. Since 2019, Sweden has suspended all arms sales to Turkey … Read more
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said his country has “no choice but to win this war,” ruling out any possible concessions to Russia in exchange for a ceasefire. Kuleba told that the current crisis is “a struggle for our existence” and that Ukraine must stop Russian soldiers immediately. He went on to declare that he … Read more
As Ukraine braces for a new assault by Moscow’s soldiers in its eastern Donbas area, Russia warned Finland and Sweden that joining NATO would be a “grave mistake.” The two Nordic countries are poised to jettison decades of military non-alignment due to fears of aggression from Russia, with which Finland shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border. … Read more
According to Stanislav Zas, secretary general of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), NATO expansion will exacerbate tensions in Europe. Mr. Zas, speaking following a CSTO session in Moscow, said the alliance was now facing problems from increased militarization in Eastern Europe. His remarks follow confirmations from Sweden and Finland that they will both … Read more
Charles Michel, president of the European Council praised Sweden and its prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, for their decision to join NATO. He described it as a “decision for the sake of collective security and defense.” Michel tweeted on Monday, “With Sweden’s application to join NATO alongside its strategic partner Finland, our security becomes even stronger.” … Read more
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on Monday that Sweden should join NATO together with Finland to “ensure the safety of Swedish people.” Andersson said the current circumstances “requires” Sweden to join the military alliance during a joint press conference with Swedish opposition leader Ulf Kristersson in Stockholm on Monday. According to her, the Swedish … Read more
Finland’s and Sweden’s lawmakers debated their NATO bids on Monday, as the two neighbors prepare to submit applications this week as a deterrence to Russian aggression. Finland officially announced its intention to join NATO on Sunday as Sweden’s ruling party said it backed membership, paving the way for a joint application. The move is a … Read more
Turkey makes demands from Finland and Sweden after they announce joining NATO NATO and the United States say they are sure Turkey won’t obstruct the enrollment of Finland and Sweden in the Western military partnership, regardless of Ankara communicating reservations. Turkey spread out requests on Sunday uninvolved of a gathering of NATO unfamiliar priests in … Read more
“Today, the Swedish Social Democratic Party took a historic decision to say yes to applying for membership in the NATO defense alliance,” Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Ann Linde said. “The Russian invasion of Ukraine has deteriorated Sweden’s and Europe’s security situation.” “The party board has decided at its meeting on May 15, 2022, that the … Read more
After decades of avoiding military alliances, Finland officially announced on Sunday that it would apply for NATO membership, with neighbouring Sweden expected to follow suit soon. The two Nordic countries have expressed a desire to act in unison and submit their applications jointly, as a deterrent to Russian aggression. – Historic U-turns – For decades, … Read more
Sweden’s decision to join NATO will bring an end to the country’s 200-year military isolation. Finland announced its NATO application today. It found that 76 percent of the population supports the country’s participation in polls conducted by Finnish broadcaster Yle. However, joining the alliance is a less popular position in Sweden. According to recent polls, … Read more
NATO on Sunday pledged open-ended military support for Ukraine, as Finland hailed its “historic” bid to enrol in the alliance and with Western claims that Russia had suffered heavy losses in its push east. The promise came after Finland jettisoned many years of army non-alignment for a bulwark against Russia, redrawing the balance of electricity … Read more
Finnish government formally declared its intention to join NATO On Sunday, , as Sweden’s ruling party held a pivotal meeting that could pave the way for a joint application. Less than three months after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the move is a stunning reversal of Finland’s long-standing policy of military non-alignment. Sweden, which … Read more
Sweden’s ruling Social Democratic Party declared its support for NATO membership on Sunday, reversing decades of opposition and clearing the way for the country to submit an application. After Russia’s February 24th invasion of Ukraine, Sweden’s political and public support for joining the Western military alliance has skyrocketed. The issue has divided Prime Minister Magdalena … Read more
Turkey has made it transparent that it does not want to impede membership, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He voiced confidence in NATO’s ability to handle Turkey’s concerns at a video news conference, saying the ascension process for Sweden and Finland into NATO is “faster than we have seen before.” Turkish President Recep … Read more
Violent clashes shook a western region of the Libyan capital overnight and into Sunday morning, an interior ministry source claimed as local media reported the death of a militia commander. Janzour, in the western suburbs of Tripoli, is home to the UN Support Mission in Libya’s headquarters as well as guarded compounds for foreign diplomatic … Read more
During talks in Berlin on the two countries joining NATO, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu lauded Finland’s conciliatory approach but reprimanded Sweden for making “provocative” statements. Turkey vowed on Friday to stymie NATO’s enlargement process with the two Nordic nations, which requires the alliance’s members’ unanimous agreement. “The Swedish foreign minister’s statements are unfortunately not … Read more
After decades of military non-alignment, Finland approved its quest for NATO membership as a bulwark against Russia on Sunday, redrawing the balance of power in Europe. In Helsinki, President Sauli Niinisto called the move “historic”. “A new era is opening,” he said, before the decision is put before parliament for approval. Finland’s move, expected to … Read more
US Secretary Antony Blinken will go to Berlin to attend an informal NATO meeting As a component of a three road trip that will likewise take him to the UAE and Paris, the US secretary of state will venture out to Berlin to go to a casual gathering of NATO Foreign Ministers on 14 May. … Read more
According to the Wall Street Journal, US President Joe Biden’s administration has urged Congress to “approve” a proposed transfer of missiles and equipment upgrades to Turkey. The agreement, estimated to be worth $300 million, is anticipated to strengthen defense connections between NATO nations. The planned transaction, however, is not part of a $6 billion pact … Read more
President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania speaks with Al Jazeera. According to him, The Ukraine conflict exposed Putin’s aims to Europe. NATO has upped its deployment in Lithuania to around 3,000 soldiers. However, Vilnius has joined the other Baltic states in requesting additional forces. Is a Russian strike on other countries on the cards? And what … Read more
