Helsinki wasn’t ready for such complications on its way to becoming a member of the US-led bloc, its top diplomat admitted


Opposition from Turkey has turned the process of joining NATO into “purgatory” for Finland, the country's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto complained on Wednesday.

With bids by Helsinki and neighboring Sweden stalled for two weeks now, Haavisto expressed hope that an announcement on the enlargement of the US-led military bloc could still be made at its scheduled summit in Madrid in late June.

The possibility of Helsinki and Stockholm joining NATO by the end of 2022 remained, but a scenario in which the process dragged on also couldn’t be ruled out, he told reporters.

Due to the stance of the Turkish authorities, Finland has found itself in “a sort of a purgatory, which we weren’t prepared for in this form,” Haavisto acknowledged.

Finland and Sweden, who stayed out of NATO during the Cold War, decided to join the bloc in the wake of the Russian offensive in Ukraine. The Nordic nations filed their applications in mid-May and hoped for a swift accession, after being backed by the US and most other members.


But Ankara suddenly said that it could block the Finnish and Swedish bids, accusing the two countries of being “guesthouses for terrorist organizations” due to them hosting members of Kurdish groups that have been outlawed in Turkey.

The Croatian president also declared that Zagreb should obstruct their applications unless the bloc addressed the alleged legal persecution of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A consensus from all NATO states is needed to add a new member to the alliance.

The Turkish government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan now wants Helsinki and Stockholm to clamp down on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and other groups it considers ‘terrorist’, as well as deport some suspects to Ankara. Its other demand is for Sweden and Finland to lift restrictions on arms trade with Turkey.


The talks between the sides have so far been fruitless, with Haavisto saying during a press-conference on Wednesday that “together with Sweden we will do our homework and prepare for the questions Turkey has.”

“Now, we need strong nerves and perseverance” to continue looking for ways to overcome the deadlock, the Finnish FM insisted.

Turkey is their stumbling block, pacification is necessary

There's no such a place or thing as purgatory.

Africans putting mouth into White lives business.

E concern us, abi?

I remember when Georgia and Ukraine were claiming they will join nato at last it did not happen let watch and see Finland.

God1000:
Turkey is their stumbling block, pacification is necessary

let NATO kick Turkey out.. Edrogan with his strong head..

leofab:
let NATO kick Turkey out.. Edrogan with his strong head..

Then how will NATO get to Black Sea? By flying over Turkey.

seunny4lif:

Then how will NATO get to Black Sea? By flying over Turkey.

never thought of it.. I see why endrogan is forming regional power

Turkey is in a perfect position.

leofab:
never thought of it.. I see why endrogan is forming regional power

seunny4lif:

Turkey is in a perfect position.

Turkey is geographically and strategically important to NATO, but no country, leader of entity is indispensable, if you push too hard, create more problems or instead of being helpful to the alliance, you are a sabotaging stumbling block and a threat to the alliance, they will bite the bullet and cut you off.

No condition is permanent.

seunny4lif:

Turkey is in a perfect position.

I swear..