Sweden and Finland in NATO: Turkey "must make its choice", says Paris

NATO, Brussels / Photo: Archive

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, says that Turkey must "make his choice" for the NATO integration of Sweden and Finland, at the risk of raising questions about its "behavior" in the alliance, said the MIA correspondent.

- The Secretary General of the Alliance is on the front line, but it is up to Turkey to make its choice before its responsibilities. Does it want to strengthen the Alliance or is it against it? Which will not lead to questions about her behavior as a NATO member, said Catherine Colonna in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche.

"Turkey is an important member of the Atlantic Alliance," he said. "Finland and Sweden have made a historic choice. Having both in NATO would be a plus for our security in Europe. "They made efforts in talks with Turkey." Despite talks last Monday in Brussels between Turkey, Sweden and Finland, the swift announcement of the two countries' NATO bids promises to be complicated by the approach of the organisation's June 28-30 summit in Madrid.

Ankara accuses two Nordic countries of harboring Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, classified as "terrorists" by Turkey and its Western allies. She also condemned the presence in these two countries of supporters of the preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is suspected of organizing the coup attempt in July 2016.

Before their historic decision to apply for NATO membership, Sweden and Finland - as well as NATO Headquarters in Brussels - counted on an express membership process, with the hope that the necessary unanimity of the 30 current members will be announced on meeting in Madrid. But after the Turkish blockade, both countries acknowledge that the situation has changed.

According to the French presidency, the president Emmanuel Macron intends to "ask Turkey for clarity on its position" in NATO on the occasion of the Madrid summit.

Dear reader,

Our access to web content is free, because we believe in equality in information, regardless of whether someone can pay or not. Therefore, in order to continue our work, we ask for the support of our community of readers by financially supporting the Free Press. Become a member of Sloboden Pechat to help the facilities that will enable us to deliver long-term and quality information and TOGETHER let's ensure a free and independent voice that will ALWAYS BE ON THE PEOPLE'S SIDE.

SUPPORT A FREE PRESS.
WITH AN INITIAL AMOUNT OF 60 DENARS

Video of the day