Sweden is now on track to become NATO’s 32nd member.
“It sends two messages. First of all, our alliance is stronger, it’s bigger with two new members — Finland and now Sweden, and it’s more united than ever,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on CBS. “In terms of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, it’s sending a very strong message to Putin that he’s not going to outlast us, he’s not going to outlast Ukraine, and the sooner he ends this war of aggression the better.
Ankara and Stockholm also agreed to create a “new bilateral Security Compact” and that Sweden will present a “roadmap as the basis of its continued fight against terrorism in all its forms,” according to a joint statement from the officials. As part of the deal, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also agreed to create a new post of “Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism” at NATO.
Sweden brings another strong and advanced military into the alliance, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on MSNBC, adding that “they’re going to bring to the alliance in very, very short order a lot of significant capability to help bolster NATO’s eastern flank. It’s a big development.”
With Sweden’s NATO membership lined up, those at the NATO summit in Lithuania, which kicked off on Tuesday, had their minds on another country’s NATO aspirations: Ukraine. Kyiv has long sought to join the alliance, and its calls have only increased since Russia invaded a wide swath of its territory in February 2022. But hopes of joining in the short-term have been repeatedly shot down by members, with President Joe Biden saying over the weekend that he doesn’t believe Ukraine’s “ready for membership in NATO.”
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Russia-Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine tops NATO summit agenda after Turkey backs Sweden’s membershipNATO leaders are gathering in Lithuania for their annual summit, where Ukraine is looking for specific pledges on when and how it can join the alliance. President Biden is also slated to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Follow our live updates.
Lire la suite »
NATO chief says Turkey agrees to send Sweden’s NATO accession protocol to Parliament swiftlyTurkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to send Sweden’s NATO bid to the Turkish Parliament “as soon as possible,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says. Sweden’s NATO accession has been held up by objections from Turkey since last year.
Lire la suite »
NATO's Stoltenberg says Turkey agrees to move ahead with Sweden's NATO bidTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to forward to parliament Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday, on the eve of a NATO summit in Vilnius.
Lire la suite »
NATO chief says Turkey agrees to advance Sweden's bid to join NATOSweden's NATO accession has been held up by objections from Turkey since last year.
Lire la suite »
NATO chief says Turkey agrees to advance Sweden's bid to join NATOSweden's NATO accession has been held up by objections from Turkey since last year.
Lire la suite »
NATO chief says Turkey agrees to advance Sweden's bid to join NATOSweden's NATO accession has been held up by objections from Turkey since last year.
Lire la suite »