ToplinePresident Joe Biden said Thursday Finland and Sweden have the “total, complete backing” of the U.S. as NATO countries consider their applications, while Finnish President Sauli Niinisto made a direct appeal to Turkey, whose president said it will oppose their accession to the alliance—though NATO officials are confident the countries will come to an agreement. However, Erdogan made his most definitive statement against the two countries joining the alliance Thursday, saying Turkey has “told allies that we will say no” to Finland and Sweden's NATO membership applications. Crucial QuoteNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Thursday in Copenhagen he is confident that NATO members will come to a “quick decision” on welcoming Finland and Sweden into the alliance. Russia’s invasion in 1939 started a year-long war that ended with Finland ceding 11% of its territory to Russia. Russia has opposed Finland and Sweden joining NATO, warning that Russia would have to “rebalance the situation” with “military and political consequences.”Further Reading'Historic Moment': Finland And Sweden Submit Applications To Join NATO (Forbes)Turkey’s Erdogan Told Allies It Will Say ‘No’ To Finland And Sweden’s NATO Bids, In His Most Definitive Statement Yet (Forbes)

Source: Forbes May 20, 2022 01:45 UTC