Page 29 - bon-dia-aruba-20220511

A29
world news Diaranson 11 Mei 2022

Crucial NATO decisions expected in Finland, Sweden this week

(AP) — Key decision- the Soviet Union in World The Finnish Social Demo-
makers in non-aligned War II. crats led by Prime Minister
Finland and Sweden are Sanna Marin are likely to join
set to announce their po- NATO membership was other parties in Finland in
sitions on NATO mem- never seriously considered endorsing a NATO applica-
bership this week in what in Stockholm and Helsinki tion. The situation in Swe-
could be a serious blow until Russian forces attacked den isn’t as clear.
to Russia as its military Ukraine more than 10 weeks
struggles to make decisive ago. Virtually overnight, the The Swedish Social Dem-
gains in Ukraine. conversation in both capitals ocrats have always been
shifted from “Why should we staunchly committed to non-
If Finland’s president and join?” to “How long does it alignment. But Prime Min-
the Social Democrats who take?” ister Magdalena Andersson,
govern both countries ig- the party’s leader, has said
nore Moscow’s warnings and Along with hard-nosed there’s a clear “before and af- interim, before they’re cov- moves and steering migration
come out in favor of acces- Ukrainian resistance and ter Feb. 24.” ered by the alliance’s one- toward the Russian-Finnish
sion, NATO could soon add wide-ranging Western sanc- for-all, all-for-one security border, similar to what hap-
two new members right on tions, it’s one of the most Andersson and other top So- guarantees. pened on Poland’s frontier
Russia’s doorstep. significant ways in which cial Democrats are believed with Belarus last year.
the invasion appears to have to be leaning toward NATO The Kremlin has warned of
Such an expansion by the backfired on Putin. membership, but several sub- “military and political reper- There are signs that Russia
Western military alliance groupings of the party have cussions” if the Swedes and already has increased its focus
would leave Russia sur- “There is no going back to come out against, including Finns decide to join NATO. on Sweden and Finland, with
rounded by NATO coun- the status quo before the in- the women’s faction, led by several airspace violations by
tries in the Baltic Sea and the vasion,” said Heli Hautala, a Climate and Environment Dmitry Medvedev, the for- Russian military aircraft re-
Arctic, as well as represent a Finnish diplomat previously Minister Annika Strandhall. mer Russian president who ported in recent weeks and an
serious setback for Russian posted to Moscow and a re- is deputy head of Russia’s apparent campaign in Mos-
President Vladimir Putin. search fellow at the Center “We believe that our interests Security Council, said last cow with posters depicting
for a New American Security are best served by being mili- month it would force Mos- famous Swedes as Nazi sym-
Putin cited NATO’s previ- in Washington. tarily nonaligned,” Strand- cow to strengthen its military pathizers. Putin used similar
ous expansion in Eastern hall told Swedish broadcaster presence in the Baltic region. tactics against Ukraine’s lead-
Europe - and the possibility Finnish President Sauli Ni- TV4. “Traditionally, Sweden ers before launching what the
of Ukraine joining the alli- inisto, the Western leader has been a strong voice for However, analysts say mili- Kremlin called its “special
ance - among the reasons for who appeared to have the peace and disarmament.” tary action against the Nordic military operation.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine best rapport with Putin be- countries appears unlikely,
on Feb. 24. On Monday, he fore the Ukraine war, is Neither Finland nor Sweden given how bogged down Rus- After remaining firmly
marked Victory Day - the expected to announce his is planning a referendum, sian forces are in Ukraine. against membership for de-
holiday when Russia com- stance on NATO member- fearing it could become a cades, public opinion in both
memorates Nazi Germany’s ship on Thursday. The gov- prime target of Russian inter- Many of the Russian troops countries shifted rapidly this
surrender in World War erning Social Democratic ference. stationed near the 1,300-kilo- year. Polls show more than
II - without being able to parties in both countries are meter (830-mile) border with 70% of Finns and about 50%
celebrate any major break- set to present their positions Sweden and Finland have Finland were sent to Ukraine of Swedes now favor joining.
throughs in Ukraine. this weekend. sought — and received -- as- and have suffered “significant
surances of support from the losses” there, Hautala said. The shocking scenes playing
Belonging to NATO would If their answer is “yes,” there U.S. and other NATO mem- out in Ukraine made Finns
be a historic development for would be robust majorities in bers in the application period She said potential Russian draw the conclusion that
the two Nordic countries: both parliaments for NATO should they seek member- countermeasures could in- “this could happen to us,”
Sweden has avoided military membership, paving the way ship. clude moving weapons sys- said Charly Salonius-Paster-
alliances for more than 200 for formal application proce- tems closer to Finland, disin- nak, a researcher at the Finn-
years, while Finland adopted dures to begin right away. Both countries feel they formation campaigns, cyber- ish Institute of International
neutrality after its defeat by would be vulnerable in the attacks, economic counter- Affairs.

Donors fall well short of UN target for Syria aid

(AP) — International do- of people from conflict- the war in Ukraine and the EU, the United States and also provide 1.56 billion eu-
nors on Tuesday pledged torn Syria who rely on aid fallout from the coronavirus other nations pledged $6.4 ros ($1.65 billion) next year.
$6.7 billion to help Syrians to survive. pandemic weighed heavily billion, with the U.N asking The U.S. pledged over $800
and neighboring countries on donors’ economies. for $10 billion to meet vital million.
hosting refugees but fell European Union Neighbor- needs.
well short of a U.N. target hood Commissioner Oliver Still, “donors are sending Borrell vowed that the EU
for assistance to millions Varhelyi acknowledged that now a very strong signal to Earlier, EU foreign policy would maintain sanctions
Syria and this region that we chief Josep Borrell warned against Syrian President
are ready to do even more that Russia’s invasion of Bashar Assad’s government
than before,” he said. Ukraine is making the plight and stressed that there can be
of poverty-stricken Syrians no normalized relations until
The United Nations had far worse. Borrell said that Syrian refugees are “safe to
been seeking $10.5 billion for 60% of Syria’s population go back home.”
2022. It says that 14.6 million “suffer food insecurity, and
people in Syria rely on aid barely know where the next Food prices around the world
– 1.2 million more than in meal is going to come from.” were already rising, but the
2021 – and that over 90% of war in Ukraine — a major
Syrians live in poverty. About Borrell said the 27-nation wheat supplier — has made
3.9 million people in Syria go bloc would provide an ad- things worse. The impact is
hungry every day. ditional 1 billion euros ($1.1 worsening the plight of mil-
billion) for Syria this year, lions of Syrians driven from
It’s the second year in a row bringing the annual total to their homes by the country’s
that pledges have not lived up 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 bil- 11-year war. Many rely on
to expectations. Last year, the lion). He said the EU would international aid to survive.