...there is no reason to prevent Finland and Sweden from joining NATO. Now, is there? Erdogan is finding the Ukraine war with Russia a leverage point since NATO was appalled at the inhumanity of Russia and is receiving a large number of the refugees that went west.
I think Erdogan is a COMPROMISE to the strength of the alliance. Erdogan needs to stop playing with Finland and Sweden as if they are bouncing balls between the court of the Free World and that of Russia.
By Hueryra Pamuk and Anne Kauranen
Madrid/Helsinki - NATO ally Turkey (click here) lifted its veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the Western alliance on Tuesday after the three nations agreed to protect each other's security, ending a weeks-long drama that tested allied unity against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The breakthrough came after four hours of talks just before a NATO summit began in Madrid, averting an embarrassing impasse at the gathering of 30 leaders that aims to show resolve against Russia, now seen by the U.S.-led alliance as a direct security threat rather than a possible adversary....
July 18, 2022
Ankara - Turkey will freeze (click here) Finland and Sweden's NATO membership bids if the Nordic countries do not keep promises on counter-terrorism made last month, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, adding he believed Sweden was "not showing a good image" for now.
Finland and Sweden applied for membership of the defence alliance in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but were met with opposition from Turkey, which accused the Nordic countries of supporting groups it deems terrorists....
