NATO summit: Hackers attack Norway and declare Stoltenberg "enemy number one"

Created: 06/30/2022, 04:46

By: Helena Gries, Lukas Zigo, Moritz Serif, Nail Akkoyun

The focus of the NATO summit in Madrid is on the accession negotiations for Sweden and Finland.

The Alliance wants a stronger eastern flank.

• NATO summit in Madrid

  : The heads of state and government of the 30 NATO countries are meeting in the Spanish capital until June 30th.

• In focus: This summit is also under the influence of the Ukraine war.

• Accession of Sweden and Finland: Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives up his resistance.

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You will find all further information and news about NATO's northern expansion in the current Newsticker.

+++ 4.40 p.m .:

The services of several Norwegian companies and authorities have been paralyzed by a cyber attack.

As the Norwegian security agency NSM announced, several websites and online services important to the population have been inaccessible in the past 24 hours.

"A criminal, pro-Russian group" appeared to be behind the attacks.

The attacks could create insecurity in the population and make it clear that one is a building block in the current political situation in Europe, said NSM director Sofie Nystrøm.

Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported that a Russian hacking group called Killnet broke the news by saying “Good morning Norway!

All detachments to fight!” called to the attack via Telegram.

Killnet has repeatedly paralyzed government websites in western countries, including German ones.

According to NRK information, the group now referred to a report according to which Russia accuses Norway of not being allowed to transport a cargo of food for Russian miners to the island of Spitsbergen.

The group also issued threats against the Norwegian NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who was described as "our number one enemy".

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was dubbed "enemy number one" by a hacker group.

© Jakub Porzycki/Imago

NATO summit: States decide to drastically strengthen the eastern flank

+++ 4:00 p.m .:

In view of the Ukraine war, the 30 NATO countries have decided to significantly strengthen the eastern flank.

In addition, the heads of state and government agreed on a new model of the armed forces at the summit in Madrid on Wednesday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke of a "fundamental change in our defense and deterrence".

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Forward defense and air defense will be strengthened and combat troops will be expanded in the eastern alliance area.

In addition, more than 300,000 soldiers will be kept on high operational readiness in the future.

For this purpose, the previous NATO rapid reaction force NRF will be replaced by the new armed forces model.

The NRF has so far only had a size of around 40,000 forces.

According to Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, the Bundeswehr's contribution to the new concept will be at least one large unit.

“Germany is ready to make its contribution.

We have already announced that we are ready to provide a division, i.e. 15,000 soldiers, and of course the corresponding material," said the SPD politician on Tuesday evening.

NATO summit: States decide to drastically strengthen the eastern flank

+++ 3.30 p.m .:

Turkey will continue to pursue its extradition requests for its 33 “terror suspects” in Sweden and Finland, said Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ.

“We will ask them to comply with the requirements of our requests under this agreement.

We've already filed an extradition request.

The files of six PKK and six FETO terrorists in Finland and of 10 FETO and 11 PKK terrorists in Sweden,” Bozdag told reporters in Ankara on Wednesday (June 29).

NATO summit: Admission process for Finland and Sweden started

+++ 2.35 p.m .:

NATO has officially started the process of admitting Finland and Sweden.

According to information from the German Press Agency, all heads of state and government of the 30 member states approved the plans at the summit meeting in Madrid on Wednesday.

+++ 2.30 p.m .:

The heads of state and government of the 30 NATO countries decided on a new strategic concept for the military alliance at their summit in Madrid.

The German Press Agency learned this from meeting participants on Wednesday.

The basic document for political and military planning describes Russia as the “greatest and most immediate threat to the security of the allies and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area”, China as a challenge.

+++ 2.15 p.m .:

Russia sees the planned accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO as “negative”.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Wednesday in Moscow, according to the Interfax news agency, he emphasized: "We regard the expansion of the North Atlantic alliance as a purely destabilizing factor in international affairs." Such a step would benefit neither the western military alliance nor the accession candidates Security.

This also applies to countries "that perceive the alliance as a threat," said Ryabkov.

This also includes Russia.

NATO summit: Erdogan demands extradition of 33 "terrorist" suspects

+++ 1:00 p.m .:

Turkey is demanding the extradition of 33 “terrorist” suspects from Sweden and Finland.

The demand is based on the agreement that Ankara signed with the two Nordic countries, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Wednesday, according to the Turkish television channel NTV.

On Tuesday, before the NATO summit, Turkey surprisingly gave up its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO.

Ankara said the two EU countries had responded to Turkey's key demands.

"Under the new agreement, we will ask Finland for the extradition of six PKK and six Fetö members, and Sweden for the extradition of ten Fetö members and eleven PKK members," Bozdag said on Wednesday.

The Turkish government calls the movement of the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, whom Erdogan blames for the 2016 coup attempt, a fetö.

Johnson at NATO summit: Putin "gets more NATO"

+++ 12.00 p.m .:

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken out in favor of expanding NATO’s eastern flank.

Furthermore, he called the planned northern expansion with Finland and Sweden "a huge step forward for our alliance." "If Vladimir Putin was hoping to get less NATO on his western front as a result of his unprovoked, illegal invasion of Ukraine, he was lying completely wrong.

He's getting more Nato," Johnson said, according to information from ntv.

+++ 11.00 a.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised Ukraine further deliveries of weapons.

In addition to humanitarian and financial aid, "weapons that Ukraine urgently needs will be made available," he said at the NATO summit in Madrid on Wednesday.

"The message is: We will continue this as long and as intensively as is necessary for Ukraine to be able to defend itself." Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced in Madrid on Tuesday that Germany would deliver three more Panzerhaubitzen 2000 to Ukraine .

Seven of these heavy artillery pieces, with a range of up to 40 kilometers, from Bundeswehr stocks have already arrived in the Ukraine.

NATO summit in Madrid: Scholz welcomes Turkey's approval

+++ 10:00 a.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed Turkey’s approval of Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

"Both countries fit in very well with our alliance," said Scholz on Wednesday before the NATO summit in Madrid.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the planned northern expansion "a huge step forward for our alliance".

Scholz emphasized that the heads of state and government of the 30 alliance countries would make “important decisions” at the two-day summit.

The states in the eastern part of NATO should be better protected.

Germany has “very great skills” and will “do its share accordingly”.

Arms deliveries to Ukraine will continue as long as necessary.

Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) announced three additional Type 2000 self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine on Tuesday evening.

A total of six are to be delivered together with the Netherlands.

NATO summit in Madrid: Stoltenberg describes Russia as a "direct threat"

+++ 9:00 a.m .:

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has described Russia as a “direct threat to our security” against the background of the Ukraine war.

The Norwegian spoke on Wednesday shortly before the start of the deliberations at the NATO summit in Madrid.

The heads of state and government of the military alliance want to adopt a new strategy in the Spanish capital and initiate a significant increase in NATO's rapid deployment forces.

Stoltenberg spoke of a "historic" summit.

It will bring the "biggest realignment of our collective defense since the Cold War," he affirmed.

Further aid commitments for Ukraine are also expected.

Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) had previously announced three more Bundeswehr self-propelled howitzers for the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to be included as a guest at the summit.

NATO summit: More ground troops planned in the Baltic states

Update from Wednesday, June 29, 7:30 a.m .:

After the breakthrough in the dispute over Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the military alliance’s summit in Madrid officially begins on Wednesday.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), US President Joe Biden and the other heads of state and government want to decide at the two-day meeting, among other things, the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank and a new strategic concept for the alliance.

More ground troops are needed in the Baltic states and on NATO's eastern flank, said Lithuanian head of state Gitanas Nauseda to the

.

Air defense instead of air surveillance is also necessary.

In addition, the number of rapid response forces should be increased drastically - from the current level of around 40,000 to more than 300,000.

The previous NATO intervention force NRF is to be replaced by a new armed forces model that is to be decided at the summit.

According to information from NATO circles, the Bundeswehr's contribution to the new concept could be the 10th Panzer Division, which leads brigades and battalions under its command from Veitshöchheim in Bavaria.

NATO summit in Madrid: Russia as the "most important and most direct threat"

When NATO decided on the last strategic concept in 2010, the world looked different.

At that time, the Allies were still counting on a “genuine strategic partnership” with Russia.

China wasn't even mentioned.

Now, a good four months after the start of the Ukraine war, Secretary General Stoltenberg describes Russia as the “most significant and direct threat”.

In addition, the concept will deal for the first time with China and the challenges it poses to NATO's security, interests and values, the Norwegian said at the beginning of the week.

NATO membership now possible: Finland and Sweden make concessions to Turkey

+++ 10:11 p.m .:

“Turkey’s concerns, including in relation to arms exports and the fight against terrorism, dispelled,” said Stoltenberg.

Turkey's Presidential Office said Turkey "got what it wanted" from the two Nordic countries.

The

Finland and Sweden have pledged "full cooperation" against fighters of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and their allies, as well as "solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism in all its forms".

Accordingly, Helsinki and Stockholm also agreed to lift their embargoes on arms sales to Turkey, which they imposed in response to Ankara's military intervention in Syria in 2019.

Finland and Sweden join NATO: Turkey gives up resistance

Update from Tuesday, June 28, 8:30 p.m.:

Turkey has given up its resistance to Sweden and Finland joining NATO.

Turkey will support the invitation to Finland and Sweden to join the alliance during the NATO summit in Madrid, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö announced on Tuesday (June 28).

A memorandum to this effect was signed after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

NATO summit: Erdogan remains firm and formulates demands

First report from Tuesday, June 28:

Madrid – The leaders of Sweden and Finland met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the run-up to the NATO summit in Madrid.

A Swedish government official on Tuesday (June 28, 2022) confirmed the start of the meeting in the Spanish capital.

During the talks, mediated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the two Nordic countries wanted to clear up Turkey's reservations about joining NATO.

In response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership in May.

Ankara surprisingly blocked the process.

In particular, Turkey accuses EU countries of granting protection to members of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The Turkish military had conducted several cross-border operations in Syria since 2016, targeting "Islamic State" and Kurdish fighters, which Ankara sees as "terrorists".

NATO accession: Joe Biden wants to talk to Erdogan about Sweden and Finland

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö took part in the talks with Erdogan.

If no solution can be found, US President Joe Biden wants to meet bilaterally with the Turkish head of state in Madrid on Wednesday.

It will probably be about possible concessions by the USA to Turkey.

French President Emmanuel Macron is also planning a talk with Erdogan.

At the invitation of the Spanish King Felipe VI.

the heads of state and government of the 30 NATO countries will come together for a dinner in the royal palace on Tuesday evening.

The actual summit starts on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is to be added as a guest on Wednesday morning.

(lz/nak/hg/mes with AFP/dpa)