Turkish stance on expansion raises thorny issues for NATO (Opinion)
Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO on 18 May. Pictured with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (centre) are Finnish Ambassador to NATO Klaus Korhonen (left) and Swedish Ambassador to NATO Axel Wernhoff (right). (Photo: NATO)
With Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan putting national interests first in stating his objections, is there still a path for NATO to welcome two new members in Finland and Sweden?
In a matter of weeks, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the unintended achievement of accelerating progress on international security cooperation.
After decades of discussion, debate and gentle overtures which seemed unlikely to result in near-term change, Finland and Sweden have abandoned their previous policy positions and applied to join NATO.
This move has come as a delight to the alliance as it is keen to reduce the risks it faces in Scandinavia, but it also enraged Russia. It has the potential too to cause wider debate, and dissension that could yet be problematic for the long-term future
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Defence Notes
-
![UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour]()
UK urged to prioritise sea, air and space over heavy armour
A report from the Council on Geostrategy argues the UK should move away from a traditional balanced force and shift investment to naval, air and space capabilities, backed by a larger fleet of attack submarines and deeper AUKUS integration.
-
![Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era]()
Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era
At its technology summit in London, attended by Shephard, Thales UK examined the importance of speed to delivery, the growing focus on cross-domain capabilities and how procurement reform could be crucial for future battlefield advantage.
-
![Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain]()
Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.
