Finland, Sweden announce the date of application to join NATO

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto (left) and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson during a joint press conference on May 17 in Stockholm, Sweden – Photo: AFP

During a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced that the two countries would jointly apply to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on May 18.

Earlier, Finland and Sweden respectively announced their decision to join NATO, according to AFP news agency.

While countries such as Britain, France and Canada voiced their support after Sweden followed Finland’s lead in announcing its decision to apply to join this military alliance, Turkey voiced opposition.

However, on May 17, President Niinisto said he was “optimistic” that Finland and Sweden could receive support from Turkey.

Any country that wants to become a member of NATO must be approved by the 30 member countries of this alliance.

Earlier, on May 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had no problem with Finland or Sweden, but he said Moscow would react to NATO’s expansion of military infrastructure in these two countries. .

In an interview with Interfax news agency on May 16, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called the decisions of Finland and Sweden a “mistake with great consequences”.

Last April, Dmitry Medvedev, one of President Putin’s close allies, revealed that Russia could deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in Kaliningrad province if Finland and Sweden joined enter NATO.

Kaliningrad province is located separately from the main territory of Russia, bordering the Baltic Sea and between Latvia and Poland – two other NATO countries.

Why is Turkey blocking Nordic access to NATO?

TTO – Turkey is creating some waves by showing its disapproval of the presence of Finland and Sweden in NATO. Ankara’s explanation for this somewhat baffling attitude comes from historical factors.