Biden: Bringing the two most modern armies of Europe to the Russian border
NATO is the NATO of the United States, everyone knows this.
On May 19, US President Biden warmly welcomed Sweden Finland's application to join NATO. He believes that this move will bring two of Europe's most modern armies to the northwest border of Russia.
U.S. President Biden, Swedish Prime Minister Anderson and Finnish President Ninisto held a press conference at the White House
Biden said in the White House Rose Garden that he would send their member applications to the U.S. Congress, hoping to quickly approve it. As Biden said this, Swedish Prime Minister Anderson and Finnish President Ninisto stood on both sides of him.
Biden said, "Sweden and Finland have a strong democratic system, a strong military and a strong transparent economy," and "Sweden and Finland have a strong sense of morality about the right thing. They meet every requirement of NATO, and there is more than that."
NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg announced applications for Sweden and Finland at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The 29 other NATO members must agree to accept the two countries, a process usually takes one year, but this time is expected to accelerate.
Finland and Sweden's applications are separated from their neutrality for decades since the Cold War. The conflict in Russia and Ukraine has worried these two countries, especially Finland, which has a border line of more than 1,300 kilometers with Russia.
may trigger a chain effect?
Former U.S. ambassador to NATO Walter said that the NATO Security Alliance may see more applications for joining the alliance soon.
He said, "Finland and Sweden are democratic countries, EU members, and strong military forces - if they all think it is unsafe outside NATO, then those countries that are still outside, that is, the 'gray zone countries', - Ukraine, Georgia , Moldova , some Balkan countries - they can't think it is safe to stay outside NATO, " "So, this requirement will increase."
United States National Defense Minister Austin said in a meeting with Swedish Defense Minister Hultquist at the Pentagon on May 18, "We look forward to your contribution to NATO alliance ."
Hultquist said, "At this time, democratic countries in Europe and North America must unite to oppose Russian invasion."
Only NATO allies Turkey expressed reservations to Sweden and Finland's participation in NATO. President Erdogan accused the two countries of harboring "terrorists" and imposing sanctions on Türkiye.
He said, "We asked for the extradition of 30 terrorists, but (Sweden) said they would not," "You don't give the terrorists to us, but you want us to allow you to join NATO. NATO is a security entity. It is a security agency. So we cannot allow the security of this security organization to be removed."
Turkey said that Sweden and Finland harbor Turkey believes that Turkey is involved in terrorist organizations, namely, Workers' Party Kurdish radicals and followers of Fatula Gulen who lives in the United States. Türkiye accused Gulen of planning the attempted coup in 2016.
Erdogan also said that Türkiye opposes sanctions on Türkiye's countries to apply to join NATO. Sweden and Finland banned the export of weapons to Turkey after Türkiye entered Syria attacked the Kurdish People's Protection Forces in 2019.
Finnish President Ninisto said on Washington on May 19 that the Finnish government had a discussion with Türkiye to ensure that they would become NATO's good friends.
He said, "We, as NATO allies, will make a commitment to Turkey's security just as Turkey will make a commitment to our security," he said. "We take terrorism seriously. We condemn all forms of terrorism and actively fight terrorism. We will openly and constructively discuss all the concerns Türkiye may have about our member applications."
This move will further provoke Russia? "I am indeed worried that NATO's expansion of acceptance of Finland and Sweden is provocative," said Sisson, a researcher at the Brookings Institution. "I am worried that no matter how a person sees their value in the alliance, I'm not sure it's wise to solve this issue at the moment. I actually think this is a bit lacking in strategic patience. So I'm worried that this dynamic might cause a different reaction from Russia. "
Russian President Putin believes that NATO's eastward expansion is a threat to Russia, saying that Ukraine hopes to join NATO is a reason for his decision to launch an attack.
Putin said last week that NATO expansion was a completely artificial problem because it was for the interests of the US foreign policy. Overall, NATO has become a foreign policy tool for a country. It can be said to be a word.
Biden set off for its first visit to Asia on the evening of May 19, and will visit South Korea and Japan and attend the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Leaders' Summit. These meetings may also discuss the situation in Ukraine for a long time.
France also expressed support?
On May 20, the French Embassy in France posted a Q&A on this.
Question: Will Finland and Sweden's application to join NATO, as Russia claims, cause the situation to escalate?
Answer: This is not the case. NATO is a defense alliance Alliance will not encourage any escalation of the situation against Russia.
Since the beginning of the crisis, NATO has taken relevant measures to play its role in order to ensure the protection of the territory of its member states in the context of the sharp deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine.
NATO is not involved in the war launched by Russia against Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General expressed the alliances The full support of the Ukrainians, such as France provides assistance at the bilateral level to help Ukraine ensure its defense.
NATO and its allies reaffirm its open door policy (shown in Article 10 of the Treaty of Washington). The treaty stipulates that, on the basis of meeting clear standards, “any other country in Europe who can carry forward the principles of this Convention and contribute to the security of the North Atlantic Region shall be invited to join the Convention with the unanimous consent of the Contracting States. ”
At the same time, NATO has not implemented an expanded agenda: it is the candidate countries that believe it is necessary to join NATO to defend its security, which is usually a response to the threat it is subject to.
Once said that NATO brain-dead Macron also supports Sweden and Finland to join NATO. It seems that joining NATO has become the choice of some "gray zone" countries.
#NATO# #Finland Sweden officially submitted a letter of application for admission to NATO#
