Turkey, Finland, Sweden and NATO have reached a compromise solution in relation to the reservations of the former on the accession of the two Scandinavian countries to the North Atlantic alliance.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Turkey agreed to support the two countries' membership on the first day of the NATO meeting in Madrid.
One step forward. pic.twitter.com/fEP88uSQtq
- Sauli Niinistö (@niinisto) June 28, 2022
As Ninisto said, the lifting of the deadlock came after the three countries signed a joint memorandum to «extend their full support to threats to their security».
The quid pro quo
In a statement on the signing of the trilateral memorandum, the Turkish presidency said that Turkey «got what it wanted» from the talks, underlining that full cooperation with Turkey in dealing with the PKK and its branches was agreed. It is claimed that solidarity will be shown with Turkey in its fight against «all forms of terrorism», and in addition Sweden and Finland pledged not to support the Kurdish YPG in northern Syria, as well as the organisation of exiled US preacher Fethullah Gulen (which Ankara accuses of orchestrating the failed 2016 coup).
«As prospective NATO allies, Finland and Sweden extend their full support to Turkey against threats to its national security,» the pro-government Daily Sabah said, adding that no support will be provided by Finland and Sweden to the YPG/PYD and «the organisation designated as FETO in Turkey».
«Finland and Sweden reject and condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,» it said, adding that the two countries condemn all terrorist organizations that incite attacks against Turkey, express «deepest solidarity» and commit themselves to preventing the activities of the Kurdish PKK and «all other terrorist organizations and their branches, as well as activities by individuals in groups that recruit and inspire, or networks affiliated with these terrorist organizations,» it said.
NATO leaders will formally invite Finland and Sweden to join the alliance on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, saying «we have an agreement that opens the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum addressing Turkey's concerns, including arms exports, and the fight against terrorism.».
As he said, «the door is open, Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO will take place». It is noted, however, that even with a formal invitation, the parliaments of NATO member states must ratify the decision, and this process can take up to a year.
The Turkish presidency added that the two countries also agreed to lift the embargo on arms deliveries to Turkey, which was imposed due to the Turkish military operation in Syria in 2019. It also said the two countries would ban «fundraising and recruitment activities» for the PKK and «prevent terrorist propaganda against Turkey.».
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters that the tripartite memorandum/ memorandum does not list persons to be issued.
Ninisto said the memorandum outlines principles for extraditing persons linked to terrorism, not individual citizens.
Stoltenberg said, however, that the terms of the agreement call for Sweden to intensify work on Turkish requests for extradition of alleged rebels and amendments to Swedish and Finnish legislation to toughen the stance towards them.
US President Joe Biden supports the deal and played a behind-the-scenes role in the negotiations, a senior US official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said Biden spoke to Erdogan earlier Tuesday at the request of both countries.
The official said the agreement would allow the Alliance to expand and marks a major change in the security posture. Notably, the official said Turkey did not insist that its demands for new fighter jets from the US be included in the negotiations.
The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO will make the Alliance «stronger and more secure», British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. It's «fantastic news as we begin the NATO summit,» Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter.
«Sweden and Finland's membership of NATO will make our brilliant alliance stronger and more secure,» the British Prime Minister said.
Fantastic news as we kick off the NATO Summit.
Sweden and Finland's membership will make our brilliant alliance stronger and safer. https://t.co/l7zN5Ez1EV
- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 28, 2022
The burning issue for the Alliance of the accession of Sweden and Finland was at the centre of quadrilateral negotiations between the two countries, Turkey and NATO, on the sidelines of the Alliance's meeting in Madrid.
After landing in Madrid on Tuesday, Turkish President Erdogan held a more than two-hour-long conversation with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the two countries' requests for membership of the alliance and Ankara's objections to the issue.
US President Joe Biden, who also arrived in Madrid before a lunch with other NATO leaders, did not comment directly on the issue in his public remarks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and King Felipe of Spain, but stressed the need for unity in the Alliance.
The Turkish president will have a meeting with Joe Biden on Wednesday. It is noted that talks between Turkey and Sweden were also scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Ankara.
The main demand presented by Ankara was that the two countries stop supporting Kurdish organisations present on their territories and lift embargoes on some arms sales to Turkey.
For his part, Erdogan, before leaving for Madrid, stated that Turkey wanted action and not words, adding that he would also press Biden for the purchase of F-16 fighters. «We want results. We are tired of passing the ball down the middle of the pitch. So far, they are producing words,» the Turkish president said, adding that he would explain Turkey's positions to allies at the summit and in bilateral meetings. He added that he would discuss with Biden the issue of Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missiles, which led to US sanctions against Turkey, and the request to buy 40 new F-16s and modernization kits for 80, as well as other bilateral issues.
Greece ready for all eventualities
In the meantime, Athens has been watching the new Turkish crescendo of aggression and provocative statements, with the pro-government press in Turkey stating in its publications that Tayyip Erdogan will raise in Madrid the issue of the demilitarization of the Greek islands in the Aegean. At the same time, Turkish officials had issued threats to that effect, with Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay saying that «the islands will be demilitarized, otherwise the questioning of their sovereignty will begin.».
Greek government sources noted that the agenda of the summit includes the discussion on the accession of Sweden and Finland to the Alliance and in no way the Greek-Turkish issues, but the Greek side's preparation is for all eventualities and especially to give the appropriate answers to Ankara if Tayyip Erdogan raises an issue.
Government spokesman Yannis Economou said on Monday that «we are not going to go with our belts unbuckled for a fight but we will not let any provocation go unanswered». As he explained, so far the Greek side has been deconstructing the absurd and unsubstantiated Turkish allegations by calmly and above all with evidence the justice of its positions and this is what it will continue to do. «Greece is not going to play the game of rhetorical tension, which is often aimed at domestic audiences. However, it will continue to present its positions in all forums and to defend its national sovereignty and sovereign rights with calm and determination,» the government spokesman stressed.
It is noted that on Tuesday the Turkish president did not fail to mention Greece, repeating that the US has nine military bases in our country and adding that he will have bilateral contacts with NATO leaders, but not with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, claiming that «we closed this door. Then, when they come to their senses. We will make our own roadmap if they come to their senses.».
