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world news Diasabra 14 Mei 2022

Turkey’s leader opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO

(AP) — Turkish President Recep to Russia since President Vladimir the U.S. remains convinced the al-
Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Putin cited NATO’s expansion near liance is more united than ever be-
his country is “not favorable” to- Russian territory as one of his justifi- fore because of Russia’s invasion of
ward Finland and Sweden join- cations for invading Ukraine. Ukraine.
ing NATO, indicating Turkey
could use its membership in the U.S. President Joe Biden held a call Finland’s president and prime min-
Western military alliance to veto Friday with Swedish Prime Minister ister said Thursday that they were
moves to admit the two countries. Magdalena Andersson and President in favor of rapidly seeking NATO
Sauli Niinistö of Finland. membership, paving the way for the
“We are following developments con- country to announce a decision in
cerning Sweden and Finland, but we The White House said in a statement the coming days. Sweden’s governing
are not of a favorable opinion,” Erdo- that Biden “underscored his support Social Democratic Party, led by An-
gan told reporters. for NATO’s Open Door policy and dersson, is expected to reveal its deci-
for the right of Finland and Sweden sion Sunday.
The Turkish leader explained his op- to decide their own future, foreign
position by citing Sweden and other policy and security arrangements.” Asked about Erdogan’s comments
Scandinavian countries’ alleged sup- during a press conference in Helsin-
port for Kurdish militants and others Niinistö’s office said the three leaders ki, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka
whom Turkey considers to be terror- “shared a deep concern over Russia’s Haavisto said: “We need some pa-
ists. war on Ukraine.” tience in this type of process. It’s not
happening in one day. This is all what environment facing the Nordic coun-
He said he also did not want to re- “President Niinistö went through I can say at the moment. Let’s take is- try after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
peat Turkey’s past “mistake” from Finland’s next steps toward NATO sues step by step.” says Moscow would react negatively
when it agreed to readmit Greece membership. President Niinistö told to Sweden joining NATO and launch
into NATO’s military wing in 1980. (Biden) that Finland deeply appreci- The Finnish minister said he was several counter-measures.
He claimed the action had allowed ates all the necessary support from likely to hold discussions with his
Greece “to take an attitude against the U.S.,” the office said in a brief Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavuso- The Swedish government’s security
Turkey” with NATO’s backing. statement. glu, at the NATO meeting in Berlin policy analysis, which will be used
over the weekend. Cavusoglu spoke as a basis for Andersson’s Cabinet to
Erdogan did not say outright that he White House press secretary Jen Friday with NATO Secretary-Gener- decide whether to seek membership
would block any accession attempts Psaki said Friday that Washington is al Jens Stoltenberg, but Turkey’s For- in the Western military alliance, was
by the two Nordic nations. Howev- “working to clarify Turkey’s position” eign Ministry did not provide details. presented to Swedish lawmakers Fri-
er, NATO makes all its decisions by and believes there is “broad support” day.
consensus, meaning that each of the among NATO members for Finland Stoltenberg has said that Finland and
30 member countries has a potential and Sweden to join the alliance. Sweden, should they formally apply The report did not include a recom-
veto over who can join. to join the world’s biggest security mendation on whether or not Swe-
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is organization, would be welcomed den should try to join NATO. But
Russia’s aggression in Ukraine scheduled to meet his NATO coun- with open arms. it pointed to NATO membership
prompted Finland and Sweden to re- terparts, including the Turkish for- carrying a number of advantages for
consider their traditions of military eign minister, this weekend in Ger- The accession procedure could be Sweden - above all the collective se-
nonalignment. Public opinion in the many. done in “a couple of weeks,” several curity provided by the 30-member
two countries quickly started to shift NATO officials have said, although military alliance.
toward favoring NATO membership The top American diplomat for Eu- it could take around six months for
after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. rope, Karen Donfried, told report- member countries to ratify the acces- At the same time, it lists numerous
24. ers ahead of Blinken’s trip that the sion protocol. tactics Russia is likely to take in retali-
United States remains supportive of ation, including cyber-attacks, viola-
Should the two countries proceed on Finland and Sweden’s prospective Meanwhile, a report by the Swedish tions of Swedish airspace and threat-
that path, it would represent a blow NATO membership bids. She said government on the changed security ening to use nuclear weapons.

Russia takes losses in failed river crossing, officials say

(AP) — Russian forces Ukraine’s airborne command Ukraine,” the ministry said
suffered heavy losses in a released photos and video of in its daily intelligence up-
Ukrainian attack that de- what it said was a damaged date.
stroyed a pontoon bridge Russian pontoon bridge over
they were using to try to the Siversky Donets River In other developments, a
cross a river in the east, and several destroyed or move by Finland and, poten-
Ukrainian and British of- damaged Russian military ve- tially, Sweden to join NATO
ficials said in another sign hicles nearby. The command was thrown into question
of Moscow’s struggle to said its troops “drowned the when Turkish President Re-
salvage a war gone awry. Russian occupiers.” cep Tayyip Erdogan said his
country is “not of a favorable
Ukrainian authorities, mean- Britain’s Defense Ministry opinion” toward the idea. He
while, opened the first war said Russia lost “significant accused Sweden and other
crimes trial of the conflict armored maneuver elements” Scandinavian countries of
Friday. The defendant, a cap- of at least one battalion tacti- supporting Kurdish militants
tured Russian soldier, stands cal group in the attack earlier and others Turkey considers
accused of shooting to death this week. A Russian battal- terrorists.
a 62-year-old civilian in the ion tactical group consists of
early days of the war. about 1,000 troops. Erdogan did not say outright
that he would block the two
The trial got underway as “Conducting river crossings nations from joining NATO.
Russia’s offensive in the in a contested environment But the military alliance
Donbas, Ukraine’s eastern is a highly risky maneuver makes its decisions by con-
industrial heartland, seemed and speaks to the pressure sensus, meaning that each of
to turn increasingly into a the Russian commanders its 30 member countries has a
grinding war of attrition. are under to make progress veto over who can join.
in their operations in eastern