Finland and Sweden have today submitted their formal applications to join NATO. Tomorrow, Sweden’s Prime Minister, Magdalena Andresson and Finland’s president, Sauli Niinisto will travel to Washington to meet US president Joe Biden. Amidst Russia’s continuous threats regarding reprisals in the event of the two countries’ NATO accession, the main obstacle seems to come from within NATO itself. Turkey, whose vote is essential to officially admit Sweden and Finland into NATO, has so far opposed this scenario, blaming the two countries for refusing its requests to extradite persons whom Turkey believes to be members of “terrorist organizations”, such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as well as for suspending weapons exports to Turkey. Analysts believe Turkey is trying to gain leverage for voting in favor of the two countries’ NATO accession, such as lifting the USA’s refusal to sell F-35 fighter jets to Ankara.
