Turkey Backs NATO Membership for Sweden, Finland
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is on a course to include Finland and Sweden following an agreement with Turkey, adding vast territory and new military abilities to counter Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine and lifting a cloud from the alliance’s annual summit.
The two Nordic countries, which had long shunned joining the alliance, abruptly changed their stance following Moscow’s attack on its neighbor on Feb. 24.
Both countries applied for NATO membership a month ago but their progress was halted by opposition from Turkey, which took exception to how Sweden, in particular, has handled issues of Kurdish terrorism raised by Turkey.
“In light of the progress we have made, [Turkey] has agreed to support Finland and Sweden” in their membership bids, said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in announcing the deal on Tuesday.
All other members of the 30-country alliance had endorsed the two countries bid to join NATO
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