The secretary-general says that NATO is negotiating with Turkey to accept Sweden and Finland

June 30, 2022: -On Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the most powerful military alliance of the world reached a deal to admit Sweden and Finland after resolving the crises of holdout Turkey.

The three countries’ foreign ministers are signing a memorandum to confirm that Turkey will back Sweden and Finland’s NATO bids during a summit in Madrid, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said.

“Our joint memorandum underscores the responsibility of Finland, Sweden, and Turkey to extend their complete support against threatening to each other’s security,” the Finnish leader said.

“Us becoming NATO allies will strengthen this commitment,” he added.

The push to add Sweden and Finland to NATO is coming as Russia’s assault on Ukraine stokes fears in different countries. Although long wary of NATO development, Moscow has opposed the two nations’ plans to join the alliance.

Lastly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would not approve the applications, which cited their support for Kurdish organizations that Turkey considers protection threats.

All 30 NATO members approve a country’s bid to be admitted into the alliance.

Last week, Stoltenberg told reporters that he is working on adding Finland and Sweden to NATO “possible.” He said it will “make them safer, NATO stronger, and the Euro-Atlantic area better protected.”

“We are working actively on the next steps in the accession process of Finland and Sweden. Which address Turkey’s security concerns, including in the fight against terrorism,” Stoltenberg said in a discussion hosted by Politico.

Both Finland and Sweden meet numerous of the requirements to be NATO members. Some requirements include having a functioning democratic political system, a readiness to give financial transparency, and the ability to make military contributions to NATO missions.

In May, the nations started the formal application to the NATO alliance.

Following the country’s bids, President Joe Biden, flanked by Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, said that the two nations would “make NATO stronger.” He reached their moves to join the speed of a “victory for democracy.”