Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Croatian government plans to oppose the process of joining Sweden and Finland into the NATO military alliance. This was conveyed directly by the country’s president, Zoran Milanovic, Wednesday (18/5/2022).
Milanovic said he had instructed Croatia’s Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Mario Nobilo, to vote against Finland and Sweden’s acceptance. He said this step was taken to get international attention related to ethnic Croatian issues in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH).
“It was not an action against Finland and Sweden but for Croatia,” Milanovic was quoted as saying Total Croatia News, Thursday.
Milanovic said he believed that Croatia in BiH as a political entity, was being “destroyed” and it was in Croatia’s national interest to prevent it. However, Croatia itself was prevented from taking steps related to it.
“How do we fight for our interests? Why? Because they won’t allow it. Not a single Croatian in uniform can enter here.”
Milanovic also cited Turkey’s similar stance on the application of Helsinki and Stockholm to NATO. He said the country led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was protecting its national interests.
“Turkey will certainly not walk away from the negotiating table until it gets what it wants,” added Milanovic.
Turkey has so far shown its opposition in this regard. Erdogan said Finland and Sweden had supported Kurdish militant groups Ankara considers terrorists.
Finland and Sweden themselves registered to become members of NATO because they felt threatened by Russia. According to both countries, this threat was heightened when Moscow attacked Ukraine.
It should be noted, however, that any decision on expanding NATO requires the approval of the 30 allies and their parliaments. This makes the attitude of Turkey and Croatia, which are also members of NATO, very important in the registration of membership in Finland and Sweden.
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