Turkey may blackmail NATO to prevent Finland, Sweden from joining - analysis
Finland and Sweden have not joined NATO in the past, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led them to consider it.
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Published: MAY 15, 2022
Turkey’s far-right ruling AKP party is looking to use Ankara’s NATO membership to blackmail the defensive pact into catering to Ankara’s orders. Turkey has long used its membership of NATO as a blank check for human-rights abuses and invasions, often running counter to the values of NATO.
For instance, Turkey is the world’s worst jailer of journalists and has ethnically cleansed Kurdish and other minorities from illegally occupied Afrin, an area of Syria it took over in 2018. Turkey also backs Hamas, a terrorist organization. However, Turkey now believes it can use its NATO membership to prevent Finland and Sweden from joining, potentially weakening the alliance at a crucial time as Russia has invaded Ukraine. Russia’s threats have caused Finland and Sweden to rush into NATO’s arms. Previously reticent about joining a military alliance, the two countries are now worried about Russia’s bullying and threats.
Turkey, which also bullies and threatens its neighbors and other NATO countries, such as Greece, tends to side with Russia. While Turkey did sell drones to Ukraine, it also buys the S-400 system from Russia and is not keen on sanctioning Russian oligarchs or companies. Turkey is thus a key partner of Moscow, part of its larger alliance with authoritarian regimes in the world. Ankara has worked with Iran to get around sanctions in the past, for instance.
more.............. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-706747
Finland and Sweden have not joined NATO in the past, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led them to consider it.
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Published: MAY 15, 2022
Turkey’s far-right ruling AKP party is looking to use Ankara’s NATO membership to blackmail the defensive pact into catering to Ankara’s orders. Turkey has long used its membership of NATO as a blank check for human-rights abuses and invasions, often running counter to the values of NATO.
For instance, Turkey is the world’s worst jailer of journalists and has ethnically cleansed Kurdish and other minorities from illegally occupied Afrin, an area of Syria it took over in 2018. Turkey also backs Hamas, a terrorist organization. However, Turkey now believes it can use its NATO membership to prevent Finland and Sweden from joining, potentially weakening the alliance at a crucial time as Russia has invaded Ukraine. Russia’s threats have caused Finland and Sweden to rush into NATO’s arms. Previously reticent about joining a military alliance, the two countries are now worried about Russia’s bullying and threats.
Turkey, which also bullies and threatens its neighbors and other NATO countries, such as Greece, tends to side with Russia. While Turkey did sell drones to Ukraine, it also buys the S-400 system from Russia and is not keen on sanctioning Russian oligarchs or companies. Turkey is thus a key partner of Moscow, part of its larger alliance with authoritarian regimes in the world. Ankara has worked with Iran to get around sanctions in the past, for instance.
more.............. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-706747
