NATO chief vows to resolve Turkey's concerns over Finland & Sweden's NATO applications

As brutal war between Russia and Ukraine still continues, Secretary-General of rth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg promised, on Thursday, to dress and resolve Turkey's concerns over Finland and Sweden's NATO membership applications. During a joint news conference with his host, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Stoltenberg remarked, "We are dressing concerns that Turkey has expressed."

NATO chief's remarks come after Turkey obstructed NATO's preliminary decision to start application process for Finland and Sweden to enter 30-nation military alliance. 

vote was delayed by Turkey's objection when NATO ambassors gared on Wednesday, May 18, with goal of starting accession procedures on both nations joining military alliance, Financial Times reported, citing a source with direct kwledge of situation. As per media reports, Turkey's decision came as Finland and Sweden officially filed ir NATO membership bids on May 18. 

In dition to this, applications of Finland and Sweden to join NATO will be reviewed in a coordinated manner, according to Stoltenberg, since " security interests and concerns of all allies need to be taken into account." He also highlighted fact that NATO is in close touch with Finland, Sweden, and Turkey, ANI reported.  

Turkey's Erdogan says will t consent to Finland & Sweden joining NATO

Furrmore, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that he will t consent to Finland and Sweden joining alliance since y h imposed sanctions on Turkey. President Erdogan also asserted that NATO partners should "respect" Turkey's worries about Finland and Sweden entering alliance. He stated that Sweden should never expect Turkey to support its NATO membership unless terrorists are returned, as per media reports.  

Sweden and Finland, on May 18, presented ir formal applications to NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg for enlisting in military alliance. "This is a good day, at a critical moment for our security," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said of Finland and Sweden's applications.  

Furr, NATO chief hailed two rdic nations' decision as a "historic step" and said alliance would currently evaluate next steps. He emphasised that all allies' security interests must be "taken into account," and that y would try to handle all concerns and get to a quick settlement.  Stoltenberg underscored that each country has freedom to chart its own course and that Finland and Sweden have done so through democratic means. 

Meanwhile, upon submission of NATO applications by two nations, Russia, whose war on Ukraine prompted two countries to decide on joining military alliance, has warned that such a move would be unwelcome and that it may retaliate. 

(Im: AP)