Stoltenberg: NATO will act if Sweden, Finland security 'threatened'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Jan 2023 23:25
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says NATO will defend Sweden and Finland if their security gets threatened while the alliance4 await their complete accession.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Oslo Spektrum, Sweden, on January 5, 2023 (Reuters)

NATO has strengthened its presence in Sweden and Finland since the two nations requested to join the alliance, and it is "inconceivable" that they would not be defended despite the fact that the ratification has not yet been completed, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday.

At a defense conference in Salen, Sweden, Stoltenberg said, as quoted by the alliance's, that a number of NATO countries have to give Sweeden and Finland "security assurances," and that NATO has "increased its presence" in that region.

Accordingly, he argued, "It is inconceivable that NATO would not act if the security of Sweden and Finland is threatened."

Furthermore, given that 28 out of 30 NATO member nations ratified accession protocols for both Sweeden and Finland, Stoltenberg added "I am confident that we will soon be able to warmly welcome you as full members of NATO."

Sweden cannot fulfill all Turkish demands for NATO accession says PM

The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, stated on Sunday that his country cannot meet all of Turkey's demands as a condition for its support but is confident that Turkey will ultimately approve Sweden's accession bid to join NATO.

“Turkey both confirms that we have done what we said we would do, but they also say that they want things that we cannot or do not want to give them,” Kristersson moted at a defense conference, in the presence of NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, in Sweden.

Kristersson added “We are convinced that Turkey will make a decision, we just don’t know when,” and hinted that the decision will depend on internal Turkish politics as well as “Sweden’s capacity to show its seriousness.”