German Chancellor Scholz has called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to drop his objections to Sweden joining NATO. In an address to the German parliament, Scholz expressed his belief that Sweden should sit at the negotiating table as a full member state alongside Finland, which was admitted to NATO in April. Scholz also emphasized that Ukraine’s admission to NATO is currently impossible due to the ongoing war, but NATO countries should focus on providing assistance to Ukraine to strengthen its army and defense capabilities.
The German chancellor stated that the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius in July will discuss how to bring Ukraine and NATO closer. However, he does not expect Ukraine to receive a formal invitation to join the alliance, as NATO’s enlargement principles prohibit the admission of a country involved in an active conflict. This has also been the reason why Georgia and Moldova have not joined the alliance.
Erdogan has been blocking Sweden’s admission to NATO, accusing Stockholm of harboring terrorists, particularly fighters from the Kurdish separatist armed group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). In response to Turkey’s demands, Sweden has strengthened its terrorism laws, and the highest court recently approved the extradition of a suspected PKK supporter to Turkey.
Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members that have yet to ratify Sweden’s admission. However, Hungary is preparing to ratify Sweden’s admission in early July. It is important to note that for a country to be admitted to NATO, a unanimous decision of all the members of the alliance is required.
How does German Chancellor Scholz emphasize the significance of including Sweden as a full member state in NATO, particularly in relation to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the need to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities
German Chancellor Scholz urges Turkish President Erdogan to reconsider his opposition to Sweden joining NATO. Speaking before the German parliament, Scholz stressed the importance of including Sweden as a full member state alongside Finland, which was recently admitted to the alliance. He also highlighted the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating that while NATO membership for Ukraine is currently not feasible, it is crucial for member countries to support Ukraine in bolstering its defense capabilities.
While the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius will address ways to strengthen the relationship between Ukraine and NATO, Scholz does not anticipate a formal invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance. NATO’s enlargement principles prohibit the admission of countries involved in active conflicts, which is also why Georgia and Moldova have not yet joined.
Erdogan’s objection to Sweden’s membership centers around allegations of Sweden harboring terrorists, particularly members of the PKK. In response, Sweden has tightened its terrorism laws and recently approved the extradition of a suspected PKK supporter to Turkey.
Currently, Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members that have yet to ratify Sweden’s membership. However, Hungary is set to ratify Sweden’s admission in early July. It is important to note that the unanimous decision of all NATO members is required for a country to be admitted to the alliance.
While Germany’s call for Turkey to set aside objections and support Sweden’s NATO membership may be met with resistance, it is crucial for the alliance’s unity and strength that all member countries work together in a spirit of cooperation.