BRUSSELS: Senior officials from Sweden and Turkiye are set to convene at NATO headquarters on Thursday, embarking upon a mission to address Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reservations concerning Sweden’s bid to join the Western military alliance.
The gathering aims to scrutinize the impasse and explore potential avenues to forge a breakthrough, should such possibilities exist.
Leading this pivotal meeting shall be none other than NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, according to Arab News. He would be joined by the foreign ministers, intelligence chiefs, and national security advisers of both nations. Additionally, representatives from Finland, which recently assuaged Turkish concerns and became a NATO member in April, would also be in attendance.
The profound repercussions of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine in February 2022 prompted both Sweden and its neighbouring Finland to abandon their longstanding policy of military nonalignment. Mindful of their security, these Nordic countries ardently pursued NATO membership. Thus, their aspirations became inexorably intertwined with the resolution of the current deadlock.
A significant display of solidarity witnessed at the White House on Wednesday, where President Joe Biden warmly received Sweden’s prime minister. This act of unwavering support underscored the United States’ resolute determination to expedite Sweden’s accession to NATO, as the alliance’s momentous two-day summit fast approaches, scheduled to commence next Tuesday.
Sweden’s hurdles in NATO membership
Notably, only Turkiye and Hungary continue to impede Sweden’s membership progress. The remaining 29 allies, Secretary-General Stoltenberg, and Sweden have unequivocally affirmed that the Nordic nation has fulfilled all necessary prerequisites to meet Turkiye’s demands. Sweden has made significant concessions, encompassing revisions to its anti-terror legislation and lifting an arms embargo imposed on Turkiye, among other notable actions.
Nevertheless, Turkiye levels accusations against Sweden, contending that it demonstrates undue leniency toward groups Ankara perceives as posing a grave security threat. These alleged threats encompass militant Kurdish factions and individuals purportedly linked to the tumultuous coup attempt in 2016. It bears emphasizing that NATO’s enlargement requires the unanimous approval of all 31 member states—a condition that presently inhibits Sweden’s progress.
The high-level gathering at NATO headquarters would bring together senior officials from Sweden, Turkiye, and other key stakeholders, collectively endeavouring to surmount the obstacles impeding Sweden’s entry into the alliance. Through rigorous deliberations and diplomatic manoeuvres, the leaders would seek to forge a path forward that respects Turkiye’s concerns and acknowledges Sweden’s demonstrated commitment to the NATO cause.
