Posted on 05/17/2022 2:33:48 PM PDT by FarCenter
...
Ankara has made it clear that it wants to use Sweden and Finland’s applications as a tool to weaken support for Kurdish separatist groups. "We must absolutely stop supporting terrorist organisations (...). I am not saying this as a bargaining chip, but because this is what it means to be allies," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu said Sunday in Berlin.
In theory, Turkey has every right to block Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO. As per Article 10 of its founding treaty, the two Scandinavian countries must convince all 30 members of the organisation of the merits of their application.
"The alliance works on the principle of consensus. Each member therefore has the right of veto. We saw this with Greece, which opposed North Macedonia’s accession for years" because of a dispute over the country's name, said geopolitologist Olivier Kempf.
Although the red carpet seemed to have been rolled out for Sweden and Finland, ... Turkey's position is causing confusion within the defence alliance.
...
According to specialists, Ankara is above all shedding light on Swedish support for the PKK in order to regain influence within the military alliance. "Turkey's relationship with NATO has been very complicated for several years. It had come to the point of talking about its exclusion.
Turkey has adopted this position in the hopes of obtaining compensation from the organisation’s members, in particular the United States. In 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on the Turkish defence industry, following the latter’s purchase of the Russian S 400 anti-missile system. Turkey was also excluded from the US F-35 stealth fighter programme, for which "it had placed an order and paid a down payment of $1.4 billion", according to Courrier International. A gesture by Joe Biden on this issue would undoubtedly overcome Ankara's reluctance.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
“Kick Turkey out then admit Sweden and Finland.”
The real question is Turkey a dependably ally of NATO? Perhaps they are not. Sweden and Finland fear Russia. They will be loyal allies. I pick Sweden and Finland.
It must be admitted that Turkey’s geographical position on the Black Sea and the straits of the Dardanelles is of huge importance. They control the Black Sea. Turkey will make decisions based on their own national interest and not NATO. They are our ally. I suspect their worthiness as an ally.
Then pull out of NATO all together
Oh and say good bye to Europe
YOU really seem sincere in YOUR ignorance.
That seems to be your best means of disagreeing with a view other than your own.
Turkey won’t prevent jack
I forgot to add that even if Turkey blocks Finland and Sweden from membership to NATO there are treaties between nations in NATO that are not NATO. In reality Sweden and Finland are part of NATO today. Both have a very sophisticated and potent armed forces.
“Can Turkey block Sweden and Finland from entry into NATO?”
I certainly hope so.
“ So is it, in YOUR VIEW, NOT in the interest of the other 29 members of NATO to come to the defense of the United States if the United States is attacked by Russia???”
Is it in the interest of the other members to come to the defense of the US?
No, of course it isn’t, and I don’t believe for a second that they would.
https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191826719.001.0001/q-oro-ed4-00008130
Lord Palmerston 1784–1865 - British statesman; Prime Minister, 1855–8, 1859–65
We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.
speech, House of Commons, 1 March 1848
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfidious_Albion
"Perfidious Albion" is a pejorative phrase used within the context of international relations diplomacy to refer to acts of diplomatic slights, duplicity, treachery and hence infidelity (with respect to perceived promises made to or alliances formed with other nation states) by monarchs or governments of the United Kingdom (or England prior to 1707) in their pursuit of self-interest.
Perfidious signifies one who does not keep his faith or word (from the Latin word perfidia), while Albion is an ancient and now poetic name for Great Britain.
As I understand it, ALL NATO MEMBERS must UNANIMOUSLY approve an applicant nation for membership. Even One holdout will stop membership.
So, the answer is “Yes”.
Yes, IF they follow their own rules, and that's a big IF.
Turkey was never really a good fit in NATO anyway. I mean heck NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Turkey is in Central Asia and not even remotely in the North Atlantic region. They pretty much were only accepted in because the other members new it would PO the Soviet Union back in the day.
“Tell them to FO.”
I hear the administration is hiring diplomats.
You have the charm and grace they are seeking!
Turkey out of Cyprus!
It is contrary to US interests to be a member of NATO.
They are a strategic liability.
“Turkey still has Jannisaries.”
Not in the traditional sense. But they do have “contractual enforcers,” especially Bulgarians. At least they used to.
“Perfidious signifies one who does not keep his faith or word (from the Latin word perfidia), while Albion is an ancient and now poetic name for Great Britain.”
Yes, I know.
BTW: There is an old song called “Perfidia,” sung by the stunningly beautiful Julie London. Loved that song.
That’s it!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.