Finland and Sweden before joining NATO: Turkey could now block - Baerbock turns to Erdogan

Created: 05/14/2022Updated: 05/14/2022, 16:48

By: Florian Naumann, Bedrettin Bölükbasi, Stephanie Munk

Finland wants to join NATO as soon as possible.

Turkey questions the move.

The news ticker.

• In view of the Ukraine conflict, Finland wants to join NATO “immediately”.

• Turkey questions NATO membership: President Erdogan does not only see Finland's and Sweden's plans positively.

• Baerbock reacted: The Foreign Minister then turned to Erdogan.

• Meeting of the NATO foreign ministers

  : Finland and Sweden's decision on NATO membership is expected at the weekend.

• This

  news ticker on the expected NATO accession of Finland and Sweden

  is constantly updated.

Update from May 14, 4 p.m.:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced yesterday

that Ankara “does not look positively” on Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

This led to fears that Turkey could block the move.

His advisor Ibrahim Kalin has now explained the statements made by the Turkish head of state in more detail.

Accordingly, Turkey is not definitively against it.

"We are not closing the doors," Kalin said in an exclusive interview with

.

Turkey is merely raising the issue from a Turkish national security standpoint, the adviser said.

The security concerns of “only some” members should not be taken into account, Kalin said.

Instead, the concerns of all NATO members must be addressed, the Turkish diplomat told

.

NATO membership is a process and Turkey will now see how this process progresses.

Kalin promised talks with Swedish counterparts and called on Finland and Sweden to "stop the presence of PKK media, activities, organizations and individuals".

This is the first point "to which we want to draw the attention of all allies and Swedish authorities".

Because just as Finland and Sweden have their own security concerns, the Turkish population also has concerns about their own security, explained Erdogan's adviser.

Finland's NATO accession: Niinistö on the phone with Putin - Kremlin boss denounces "mistakes".

Update from May 14, 2:40 p.m.:

In a phone call with Finland's President Sauli Niinistö, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin described Helsinki's planned NATO membership as a mistake.

Russia does not pose a threat to the neighboring country, Putin emphasized during the talks on Saturday, according to the Kremlin.

Finland's move away from traditional neutrality will worsen what has been good neighborly relations, he warned.

The talks came about on the initiative of the Finnish President to explain the decision to join NATO in view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Helsinki sources.

“The conversation was open and direct, but was conducted without exacerbation.

It was considered important to avoid tensions," Niinistö said, according to the Finnish Presidential Office website.

Finland's NATO accession: Reaction from Helsinki and Stockholm to Erdogan - "react calmly"

Update from May 14, 2:15 p.m .:

Finland and Sweden are now also getting the first reactions to statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey considers Finland and Sweden’s possible NATO accession to be “not positive”.

The Turkish head of state accused both countries of supporting the PKK, which the EU and the USA have designated as a terrorist organization.

In an interview with the Finnish public broadcaster YleTv1, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö called for a "calm" reaction to Erdogan's statements.

news agency quoted the Finnish President from the interview

as saying that this does not mean that Turkey is definitely opposed to accession .

So far, Turkey has conveyed exactly the opposite of the position announced by Erdogan.

However, these words "definitely" would lead to discussions, especially since the USA has already reacted, according to Niinistö.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier that Turkey was working to clarify Turkey's stance.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde announced that she would meet her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu at the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Berlin.

, Linde underlined that if Sweden decides to join, it will have “very, very strong support” from important alliance members

.

These are countries with which Turkey is interested in good relations, said the Foreign Minister.

Finland's NATO accession: Baerbock irritated by Erdogan's statements - "should be pleased"

Update from May 14, 2:10 p.m .:

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO.

Sweden and Finland are "solid democracies that have lived in peace with their neighbors for decades," said Baerbock a few hours before the start of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Berlin.

"Every democratic country should be pleased" when "democracies with strong defense capabilities" strengthen the Western military alliance, she stressed.

Baerbock emphasized that “every country” could “decide freely” not only about its alliance partners, but also about its defense alliances.

In view of Finland's and Sweden's forthcoming NATO applications, the federal government has already made it clear "that we more than support this accession".

Both countries had strong defense capabilities from which NATO would benefit, she stressed.

At the same time, Baerbock emphasized: "It was not NATO that pushed Sweden and Finland to join, but the actions of the Russian President pushed Finland and Sweden into this alliance because they want to continue to live in peace with their neighbors." Should the two countries take the step actually go, she would support this "very, very much," said the Green politician.

Annalena Baerbock (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Foreign Minister of Germany, speaks during the closing press conference of the summit of foreign ministers of the G7 group of leading democratic economic powers.

© Marcus Brandt/dpa

Finland's NATO accession: NATO foreign ministers meeting on plans for Helsinki and Stockholm

Update from May 13, 8:10 p.m .:

The NATO foreign ministers will meet in Berlin on Saturday afternoon for informal consultations on the Ukraine war.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde and her Finnish colleague Pekka Haavisto will also take part in a working lunch starting at 7 p.m.

At the meeting, the Finnish government is expected to announce that it intends to apply for NATO membership.

A similar decision by Sweden is expected on Sunday.

Sweden and Finland joining NATO would be a turning point for the two states, which have been militarily neutral for decades.

Response to plans to join NATO: Russia will stop supplying electricity to Finland from Saturday

Update from May 13, 6:30 p.m .:

Moscow is reacting to Finland’s plans to join NATO: Russia will stop supplying electricity to Finland – starting on Saturday.

This was announced by the energy company RAO Nordic Oy on Friday.

The Helsinki-based subsidiary of the Russian group InterRAO said it had not yet received payment for electricity sold in May.

It can therefore not pay the bills for the electricity imports.

"This situation is exceptional and has occurred for the first time in our more than twenty-year trading history," RAO Nordic Oy continued.

It hopes that the situation will improve “soon” and trade can resume.

The Finnish network operator Fingrid then calmed down and emphasized that the security of supply was not at risk.

Finland's NATO plans: Turkey has no "positive opinion"

Update from May 13, 2:45 p.m

.: Is Turkey blocking Finland and Sweden’s ideas for joining NATO?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Istanbul on Friday that he had no "positive opinion" about the two countries' inclusion in the military alliance.

He justified his stance by saying that Scandinavian countries behaved “like a guest house for terrorist organizations”.

Erdogan accuses Scandinavian states, among other things, of offering shelter to members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is banned in Turkey, and the left-wing extremist group DHKP-C.

The admission of new members must be approved unanimously by the NATO member states.

Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, would have the option of blocking Sweden and Finland from joining.

NATO member Lithuania, on the other hand, welcomed NATO membership.

Finland's NATO plans: Sweden presents crucial analysis

Update from May 13, 12:05 p.m .:

An eagerly awaited security analysis in Sweden has shown the advantages of joining NATO for the previously non-allied country.

"Swedish NATO membership would raise the threshold for military conflicts and thus have a conflict-preventing effect in Northern Europe," says the analysis.

The document does not provide a clear recommendation for or against joining the defense alliance.

However, it is considered the basis for a decision by the Scandinavian EU country on possible NATO membership.

The Swedish government had been indecisive for a long time.

"We find that the Russian crisis is structural, systematic and protracted," said Foreign Minister Ann Linde at the presentation of the report that the parliamentary parties wrote together with the government.

This is the basis of the entire analysis.

According to the paper, the biggest consequence of a possible NATO membership would be that Sweden would come under the collective security of the alliance.

According to the report, Sweden would not only strengthen its own security with membership, but also contribute to the security of like-minded neighboring countries.

The prospect of joining NATO would give Sweden security guarantees that would not exist without membership, it said.

A disadvantage of Sweden's accession would therefore be that Russia could react negatively to it.

Attempts to influence the public and decision-makers in Sweden are considered the most likely.

Cyber ​​attacks are also conceivable.

The Swedish government has presented an analysis of possible NATO membership.

© TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP

Finland's NATO accession: Heusgen calls the decision a "turning point"

Update from May 13, 10:50 a.m .:

The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, has described the announced rapid accession of Finland to NATO as a "turning point" for the military alliance.

"Until now, NATO had been very cautious," including when stationing troops, Heusgen said in the ARD "Morgenmagazin".

That has changed with the massive breach of international law by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Finland is now seeking protection under the NATO umbrella," Heusgen said.

With Finland, NATO is getting a new partner that "really stands out" in terms of its military capabilities, emphasized Heusgen.

The fact that Finland turned to NATO was provoked by Moscow's behavior, he said, referring to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine: "Finland's President Sauli Niinistö always tried to maintain good relations with Russia.

Now he feels betrayed.”

Finland joining NATO: Strack-Zimmermann wants to see Germany as a “role model” for other NATO countries

Update from May 13, 9:10 a.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke in the defense committee behind closed doors about the federal government’s Ukraine course.

Apparently, it was also about NATO membership for Finland and Sweden.

After the meeting, the Chair of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), emphasized that the Bundestag must meet “as soon as possible” in the event of an application from these countries in order to set an example for other NATO countries .

Finland's NATO entry: will the Kremlin turn off the gas tap?

Update from May 12, 4:35 p.m .:

The first concrete reaction from Moscow to Helsinki’s decision to join NATO could take place tomorrow

in the form of a gas supply stop to Finland.

This comes from a report in the Finnish newspaper

.

Key Finnish politicians have already been warned about this, the newspaper reported, citing anonymous sources.

However, the report does not address who issued the warning.

Such a westward move by Moscow would not be new, however.

At the end of April, Russia turned off the gas supply to Poland and finally also to Bulgaria.

Finland's NATO accession: Scholz welcomes decision - assures "full support".

Update from May 12, 4:16 p.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has assured Finland of Germany’s support for its admission to NATO.

He welcomes the decision of the top politicians in Helsinki for the country to join immediately, Scholz wrote on Twitter.

In a telephone conversation with the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, he had "guaranteed the full support of the Federal Government".

Finland plans to join NATO: CDU politicians want the same for Sweden

Update from May 12, 3:45 p.m .:

Germany approves Finland’s plan to join NATO.

The deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Johann Wadephul, emphasized: "Finland's declared will to join NATO is a historic step for the country and the entire Baltic Sea region.

This not only strengthens Finland's security, but also that of the other countries bordering the Baltic Sea, above all the Baltic States.” It is “desirable that Sweden will now follow the same path”.

In this scenario, “the Baltic Sea region would stand united against the threats and open aggressions of Russia.

President Putin's ambitions for a renaissance of a Soviet-Russian empire would then have collapsed," Wadephul said

At this point he called on the federal government to speak out in favor of an "immediate security guarantee for those willing to join".

Finland now needs “immediate solidarity and the protection of NATO”.

Similar to Great Britain, Germany must also make it clear "that Finland and later also Sweden can already rely on Germany's military support before accession".

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had actually recently promised Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson the support of the Federal Republic.

Finland joins NATO: Russia threatens retaliation - including military ones

Update from May 12, 1:10 p.m .:

After the Kremlin, the Russian Foreign Ministry has now responded to Finland’s plan to join NATO.

"Finland's accession to NATO is a radical change in the country's foreign policy," the Russian state agency Ria Novosti quoted the ministry's statement in Moscow as saying.

This is also in contradiction to Finland's "international legal obligations".

In order to eliminate the threat to Russia's national security, it is necessary to take retaliatory measures both in "military-technical" and "other" terms, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to the state agency TASS.

Finland joins NATO: Several countries and NATO support Helsinki's plan

Update from May 12, 12:40 p.m .:

Several countries have announced their support for Finland’s intention to join NATO.

Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, Romania and Poland welcomed the decision of Finland's political leadership to join NATO quickly.

Ukraine is one of the countries supporting Finland's rapid admission to NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has already held a telephone conversation with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö.

Selenskyj expressed his "full support", wrote Niinistö on Twitter.

In return, he reiterated Finland's "firm support" for Ukraine.

Zelenskyj wrote on Twitter that in conversation with Niinistö he had "praised" Finland's willingness to join NATO.

However, NATO has promised Finland a quick admission.

"The accession process would run smoothly and quickly," said General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg.

Finland is one of NATO's closest partners, a mature democracy, a member of the EU and a key factor when it comes to Euro-Atlantic security.

"They would be warmly welcomed into NATO," said Stoltenberg.

Finland's NATO plan: Russia reacts - Kremlin sees "clear threat"

Update from May 12, 11:45 a.m .:

There is a reaction from the Russian government to Finland’s announced NATO membership request: The Kremlin sees Finland’s NATO membership “clearly” as a threat to Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that an expansion of the military alliance and a NATO rapprochement with Russia's borders would "not make the world and our continent more stable and safer".

According to British newspaper

, Peskov also said Finland was taking part in "the EU's unfriendly moves against Russia."

This gives cause for "regret" and calls for an "appropriate answer".

Everyone wants to avoid a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO, the Kremlin spokesman is quoted as saying.

Sweden in NATO?

Stockholm timetable now public

NATO accession for Sweden and Finland?

It is still unclear whether Magdalena Andersson (left) and Sanna Marin will stay in step.

© Markku Ulander/www.imago-images.de

Update from May 12, 11:25 a.m .:

Finland’s political leadership wants to apply for NATO membership “immediately” (

).

And in Sweden, too, a quick decision is in sight.

Stockholm could officially follow suit as early as Monday, as the newspaper

reports.

The tabloid published a kind of current timetable online until a decision is announced:

• Thursday, May 12th:

  Last digital member meeting of the ruling Social Democrats on possible NATO membership.

• Friday, May 13:

  The Swedish Parliament publishes a cross-party analysis paper on the issue.

  According to Expressen, it does not contain a clear requirement, but a guideline "between the lines".

• Sunday, May 15:

  The party leadership of the Social Democrats meets to make a NATO decision.

• Monday morning, May 16:

  Parliament debates the NATO analysis.

• Monday afternoon, May 16:

  According to the report, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson wants to convene an extraordinary cabinet meeting to make a final decision.

  Immediately afterwards, an application for membership is to be sent to NATO.

According to

, the Social Democrats have emphasized that the decision of the party - and thus also of the Swedish minority government - is still open.

However, observers are convinced of a clear "yes".

The planning is also part of a larger whole: Together with Finland, Sweden wants to take “rapid and coordinated steps towards the historic decision for NATO membership”.

The two Scandinavian countries have long linked their security policy skills.

Finland about to take a big step: President and Prime Minister want to join NATO “immediately”

First report:

Helsinki - Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin have spoken out in favor of their country joining NATO in view of the Ukraine war.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the two endorsed membership in the western military alliance.

"Finland must immediately apply for NATO membership," said Niinistö.

It is expected that the EU's northernmost country will decide to formally apply for membership in the coming days - probably on Sunday.

This step would be a direct consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting changed security situation in Europe.

For Finland, which has been non-aligned for a long time and shares a border with Russia that is more than 1,300 kilometers long, such a decision would be historic.

Russia has already announced serious consequences if Finland and Sweden join NATO.

Finland wants to join NATO because of the Ukraine war: All 30 member countries must agree

Before the country can join NATO, all 30 current members must agree.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had recently signaled several times that there was broad support for this within the alliance.

Niinistö and Marin's government ultimately decide together on the NATO issue, but they involved parliament in the decision-making process.

On the way to a decision, the government had already submitted a security analysis to the Riksdag in Helsinki in April, in which the advantages and risks of possible NATO membership were highlighted.

However, the analysis did not include a position for or against such a membership.

Ukraine war: Finland is thinking of joining NATO: Russia's invasion triggered a change in opinion

Finland and neighboring Sweden are already close partners of NATO, but have not yet become official members.

However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked an intense NATO debate in both countries.

In the population there was a clear change of opinion towards a possible accession to the alliance.

In a recent poll by the Finnish broadcaster Yle, 76 percent of respondents were in favor of Finland joining NATO.

During a visit by Sanna Marin and the Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to the closed meeting of the federal cabinet in Meseberg near Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently pledged German support for the countries joining NATO.

Finland wants to join NATO because of the Ukraine war - and when will Sweden follow?

The Finnish announcement now increases the pressure on Sweden to make a timely decision on NATO membership.

A separate security policy analysis was expected there on Friday, and Andersson's governing Social Democrats want to make a decision on their own position on the matter on Sunday.

Next Tuesday and Wednesday, Niinistö is finally with the Swedish King Carl XVI.

Gustaf visiting Stockholm.

Denmark welcomes the position of Finland's political leadership in favor of rapid NATO accession.

"Denmark will of course warmly welcome Finland to NATO," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

Finnish accession would strengthen NATO and common security.

Denmark will do everything to ensure a speedy admission process once the formal application for membership has been submitted.

You can read everything about the international negotiations and reactions to the Ukraine war in the news ticker.