Turkish President Recep Tayyp Erdogan, 69, showed why he’s no pushover, holding up Sweden’s bid to join NATO, allegedly due to PKK terrorists living in Sweden, but more specifically seeking EU membership. Erdogan made clear in acquiescing to 64-year-old NATO Secretary Jen Stoltenberg that he wanted NATO and Sweden’s backing for EU membership before he told the Turkish parliament in Ankara to approve Sweden’s acceptance into NATO. Turkey and Hungary approved Finland’s accession to NATO April 4, leading Sweden hanging on a limb. Finland and Sweden asked to join NATO after 70-year-old Russian President shocked the world moving the Russian army into Ukraine. After 17 months of war, Ukraine has suffered massive carnage and infrastructure damage. Finland and Sweden wanted NATO’s protection after Putin invaded Ukraine.
One day before the July 11 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuandia, Erdogan finally gave his blessing for Sweden’s NATO membership, a big question mark hanging over the two-day summit ending July 12. NATO Secetary-General Jens Stoltenberg, 64, announced that remaining obstacles have been removed from Sweden’s NATO membership. “I’m glad to announce . . . that President Erdogan has agreed to forward the accession protocol for Sweden to the grand national assembly as soon as possible, and work close with the assembly to ensure ratification,” said Stoltenberg, saying the breakthrough was “historic.” Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson met for hours in Vilnius before the announcement. Kreistersson told Erdogan he would work to remove any obstacles to Turkey joining the European Union, something Turkey sought since 1987.
Turkey expressed concerns that Sweden harbored PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party] terrorists, giving the group credibility. Turkey considers Kurdish groups terrorists because of their longstanding separatist movement. About 14 million Kurds live in Turkey, according to the Turkish government, roughly 18% of the population. Since the end of WW I, Kurdistan received no independent territory following the break-up of the Ottoman Empire Oct. 30, 1918. “This has been a good day for Sweden,” Kristersson said, calling today “a very big step” toward ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership. Before the Feb. 34, 2022 Ukraine War, Finland and Sweden retained a neutral stance in the Cold War, yet always caucused with NATO countries. Neither country wanted, by jointing NATO, to antagonize the Kremlin. Since the Ukraine War, Finland and Sweden wanted NATO protection.
Putin didn’t anticipate such a harsh reaction to invading Ukraine, pushing Europe into a closer alliance to push back against Russian expansion. Biden and Ukraine’s 45-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky insist that Putin has his eyes on former Soviet satellites, especially the Baltic States. Finland shares an 830 mile [1,340 km] border with Russia, increasing the states after the Ukraine invasion. Putin knew that Finland and Sweden joining NATO was inevitable, largely because they were considered for years part to of the Western alliance. Putin has his hands full dealing with a U.S.-and NATO-armed Ukraine, wanting no part of attacking a NATO country. Putin knows that Article 5 requires all of NATO’s countries to defend any country attacked by a hostile power. With Ukraine invaded, Finland and Sweden wanted the extra protection provided by NATO’s trans-Atlantic shield.
Swedish Prime Minister Krstersson knows that Erodgan seeks EU membership, despite now meeting the spirit of the EU’s commitment to democratic principles. Erdogan has ruled Turkey, much like Putin rules Russia, despite pretending to adhere to a parliamentary government. Russia, too, has its Duma or parliament but Putnn is the final word of any national policies, just like Erdogan. How’s the EU supposed to ad Turkey when it’s ruled by an authoritarian like Putin? Kristersson has no problem assuring Erdogan that Turkey will not give the PKK safe haven in Stockholm. Before Kristersson jumps for joy to quickly, he’s reminded that Erdogan wants the EU to open the way for EU accession before he approved the Turkish parliament to approve Sweden for NATO membership. Erdogan gave Stoltenberg no firm date yet when Sweden can expect NATO membership.
Stoltenberg has all NATO members, including 60-year-old Hungarian President Viktor Orban, to approve Sweden’s NATO membership. If Orban’s any standard for the EU, there’s not much difference between Orban and the way Erdogan runs Turkey. EU officials must give Erdogan a concrete overture that it’s considering opening the EU to Ankara. Erdogan, exacting concessions from Washington, expects that Biden would approve a $20 billion sale of Locheed-Martin F-16 sales to Turkey, in addition to the EU removing roadblocks to Tureky’s membership. When Biden meets with Erdogan in Vilnius, he’s likely to approve Turkey’s requests for F-16s, together with his support for EU membership. EU officials would like nothing more than to replace Britian with Turkey membership, retuning the EU back to 28 nations. Brussels lost about $3 trillion when the U.K exited the U.K. Jan 31, 2020.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
