The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formally invited Sweden and Finland to become members on Wednesday (June 29), in a move that marked a major turning point in European security in decades. It also raised Russia’s status as the most serious “threat” to the coalition’s security.
The move came during a NATO summit in Madrid in Spain by Jen Stoltenberg. NATO secretary Call this summit a “Historic Summit of Transformation” as NATO faces its worst security crisis in the post-World War II era.
“Today we have decided to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO’s new members,” a joint NATO statement said.
However, Finland and Sweden’s accession to membership requires a process of ratification by the parliaments of all 30 NATO nations. This is expected to take regarding a year, and once completed, the two nations will receive military protection under Article 5 of the NATO treaty which states that “Attacks once morest a member of any country would mean an attack on all NATO members.”
In the meantime, NATO plans to strengthen its troops in the Nordic region. and more frequent naval maneuvers and patrol missions in the Baltic Sea. To reassure Sweden and Finland
“We will work to ensure that NATO will be able to protect every member country. including Finland and Sweden,” Stoltenberg said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday reached a deadlock agreement with Finnish and Swedish leaders on a number of security measures. This led Ankara to finally allow the two nations to join NATO.
Turkey was the only NATO member state to oppose Finland and Sweden from joining the group. It cited stories that the two countries had sheltered fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey considers terrorists. It is also unsatisfactory that Helsinki and Stockholm have suspended arms exports since 2019.
The Finnish and Swedish leaders promised Erdogan to work hard. and cooperate with Turkey in the extradition It will also amend the law to toughen the PKK fighters. It will also lift restrictions on arms sales to Turkey.
US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the tripartite deal. by US leaders tweeted that This is an important step towards inviting Finland and Sweden to join NATO. which will increase the strength of the alliance and enhance joint security
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted Helsinki and Stockholm to leave their neutral stances and join forces with a US-led military alliance. Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia. Growing up, there were more and more excellently trained troops. and increase the Russian advantage in the Baltic Sea
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday his country ‘No problem’ if Finland and Sweden join NATO But if NATO reinforces and expands NATO infrastructure in both countries, Russia will need to “retaliate” properly.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established in 1949 with the aim of blocking Soviet influence. And the February 24 Russian invasion of Ukraine has become a catalyst for NATO to regain its serious security role. After having failed in the Afghan war and faced heavy divisions among themselves in the era when Donald Trump was the American leader
“We are sending a very clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin: You will not win,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Chanchez said during a NATO summit.
– Russia is a ‘threat’
NATO also announced a new strategic concept. by changing the status of Russia from The “strategic partner” became the “primary threat” of the alliance.
NATO’s New Strategic Concept Document accuses Russia of aiming “Establish territories of influence and direct control by means of intimidation, undermining, invasion and territorial annexation”, with the use of both conventional armies. Conventional military includes cyber and hybrid strategies to achieve these goals.
NATO also stated that Russian military reinforcements in the Baltic, Black Sea and Mediterranean regions Including a military integration plan with Belarus is a “challenge to the security and interests of NATO”.
NATO also expressed concern that Russia modernized its nuclear force. Threats to use nuclear weapons and develop “dual-capable delivery systems”, meaning hypersonic missiles that can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear warheads.
to deal with these dangerous movements. NATO vowed to strengthen both deterrence and defense, while insisting that the alliance The two sides are “not heading for a confrontation” with Russia and remain hopeful that the two sides will resolve the issue through negotiable means.
NATO’s new strategic concept sheet also featured “China” for the first time, describing “the ambitions and intimidation policies that the Chinese government employs.” contributing to challenges of our interests, security and values,” he accused Beijing of maliciously using cyber and hybrid operations. Use provocative words to bring regarding a confrontation. and disseminating disinformation to attack and undermine NATO’s security.
in economic terms NATO pointed out that China hopes to exert influence on key industries and technologies. including the infrastructure strategically important raw materials and the global supply chain
“China uses its economic bargaining power to build strategic dependency and expand its influence. They are aiming to break international regulations in space, cyber and sea,” NATO said.
The coalition also expressed concern that The closer ties between Moscow and Beijing “It will further encourage each other to undermine international regulations.”
NATO, however, does not view China as an “enemy” at all and remains open to constructive cooperation with Beijing. Along with raising awareness and preparing for China as a fast growing competitor.
NATO leaders also agreed to provide long-term assistance to Ukraine. In addition to supporting thousands of financial and weapons millions of dollars previously given German Chancellor Olaf Schalz made it clear that weapons would be delivered to Kiev without a break.
“We will continue to do this. and do it intensely as long as necessary to help Ukraine to protect itself,” the Beer City leader said.
NATO also plans to expand its “combat-ready” immediate response force from 40,000 to 300,000, a seven-fold increase in preparation for a confrontation with Russia.
Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine has been a factor in holding NATO-Moscow relations to their lowest level since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, and has also served as an excuse for the United States. And the Western allies have imposed some of the toughest sanctions on Russia in modern history.
in Putin’s corner He saw that the Western world already wanted to destroy Russia. And these sanctions are a declaration of economic war. But Russia is ready to face it. and will turn to enhance cooperation with other superpowers such as China, India and the Middle East.
Recently, Iran, which has the second largest natural gas reserves in the world, has applied to join the BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The group that Beijing and Moscow claim to be powerful emerging markets. And as an alternative to cooperation with the West, Argentina also expressed a desire to join.
Moscow has bragged that both Iran and Argentina’s BRICS applications are another evidence that the United States and the West have “failed” in their efforts to isolate Russia.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China is the largest economy in the BRICS, accounting for more than 70 percent of the group’s $27.5 trillion economy. While India was second in size, accounting for 13%, Russia and Brazil were the second largest. accounted for regarding 7%
The BRICS group comprises more than 40% of the world’s population. And the economy is 26% of the world economy.
