Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to the Alliance should signal to Russia that NATO’s doors are open to other countries.
Source: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg
The Alliance is sending “a very clear message to President Putin that NATO’s door is open,” Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.
“He wanted less NATO, and now President Putin is getting more NATO, on his borders. So what he gets is the opposite of what he actually demanded.”
Stoltenberg added that the situation around Sweden’s and Finland’s applications had become “perhaps the fastest process” in considering countries’ applications to NATO membership.
It is noted that Turkey agreed to support inviting the two Nordic countries into the military alliance, after receiving pledges from Finland and Sweden addressing its security concerns, including restrictions on Kurdish groups that Turkey considers terrorists, and avoiding arms embargoes.
Asked about the possible timing of the completion of these countries’ accession to NATO, Stoltenberg said he “could not predict” when it would be completed, as decisions now have to be made by the parliaments of the Alliance.
See also: Rising energy prices should not be a reason to stop supporting Ukraine, – NATO Secretary-General
