May 20, 2022
1 min read

NATO chief to soothe Erdogan over membership bids

Finland and Sweden have decided to apply for NATO membership. Turkey has said it opposed the two Nordic states’ accession to the military alliance…reports Asian Lite News

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, has pledged to address Turkey’s concerns on Finland’s and Sweden’s applications to join the military alliance.

“We are addressing the concerns that Turkey has expressed,” he said on Thursday at a press conference held here jointly with his host, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Finland and Sweden have decided to apply for NATO membership. Turkey has said it opposed the two Nordic states’ accession to the military alliance, Xinhua news agency reported.

Stoltenberg added that the applications by Finland and Sweden to join NATO will be handled in a coordinated manner as “the security interests and concerns of all allies need to be taken into account”.

He said NATO is “in close contact with Finland and Sweden and Turkey”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he could not agree to the accession of Finland and Sweden, which have levied sanctions on Turkey.

Ankara has accused both nations of supporting “terrorist organisations,” referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and the Kurdish militia People’s Defence Units in Syria.

Russia, which could see its land border with NATO countries doubles, has also repeatedly warned Sweden and Finland against joining NATO, saying such a move would oblige it to “restore military balance” by strengthening its defences in the Baltic Sea region.

ALSO READ: Italy backs Finland-Sweden NATO bid, Turkey says no

Previous Story

Bilawal backs Imran’s Russia visit

Next Story

China stresses ‘solidarity’ with BRICS

Latest from -Top News

Dalai Lama Turns 90, Rubio Sends Wishes

Ahead of his 90th birthday, the Nobel Peace Laureate also confirmed that he will have a successor…reports Asian Lite News US Senator Marco Rubio extended warm birthday wishes to the Dalai Lama

BRICS must break the digital chains

BRICS nations need to build consensus, balance innovation and social justice by reinforcing the digital sovereignty of Global South, including evenly distribution of benefits through AI, writes Baidya Bikash Basu BRICS, the

Modi begins landmark Argentina visit

First Indian PM to visit in 57 years; economic ties, lithium and trade top agenda Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a historic visit to Argentina on Saturday by paying homage to
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Haj pilgrims from Turkey, Europe, US bound for Madinah

Groups of pilgrims from Turkey, Europe, the US and Australia

Tunisia FM summons Turkish Ambassador after Erdogan’s ‘regret’ comments

Tunisian Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi summoned the Turkish Ambassador over