Page 9 - Nato Alliance

Finnish NATO proposal assesses effects of membership to the alliance

The government says Finland's NATO membership could be approved by a simple majority in Parliament

NATO Chief Stoltenberg urges Turkey to endorse Finland, Sweden accession

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged Turkey on Thursday to set aside its reservations over Finland and Sweden's efforts to join the military alliance, insisting the Nordic neighbours have done enough to satisfy Ankara's concerns about their membership. Finland and Sweden applied for membership of the world's biggest security alliance in the months after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February. In doing so, they abandoned longstanding policies of military nonalignment out of concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin might target them next. But Turkey, which joined NATO in 1952, is still not ready to endorse them after months of trilateral talks. The Turkish government wants them to crack down on individuals it considers terrorists, such as supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party and people suspected of orchestrating a failed 2016 coup in Turkey. Finland and Sweden have delivered on their commitment to Turkey. They have become strong partners in our joint .

We'll fulfil deal with Turkey on NATO, says Sweden's top diplomat

Sweden's center-right government will fulfil all requirements under a deal with Turkey to join NATO and will concentrate external relations to its immediate neighbourhood while dropping the previous administration's feminist foreign policy," the country's top diplomat said on Monday. Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrm said the new government shares Turkey's concern about the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which is considered a terrorist organisation in Turkey, Europe and the United States. There will be no nonsense from the Swedish government when it comes to the PKK, Billstrm told the Associated Press in an interview. We are fully behind a policy which means that terrorist organisations don't have a right to function on Swedish territory. Turkey stalled Sweden and Finland's historic bid to join NATO over concerns that the two countries - Sweden in particular - had become a safe haven for members of the PKK and affiliated groups. Under a memorandum of understanding signed by Swed

US weighs next moves on arms supply to Ukraine in 'escalatory cycle'

Ukraine will push for still more advanced weaponry when the US convenes a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels today to marshal new support for hardware and supplies

Sweden moves closer to NATO, lifts 2019 arms embargo on Turkey

Would-be NATO member Sweden on Friday announced it will allow exports of arms to Turkey, which had threatened to block the Scandinavian nation's application to join the 30-member defence alliance. The decision means that Sweden, which has sought NATO membership along with neighbouring Finland, will lift an arms embargo it had imposed on Ankara in 2019 after Turkey's military operation against the Kurdish militia known as the YPG in Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to block the Nordic pair's membership, insisting they change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists and lift the arms embargo on Turkey. NATO operates by consensus so Turkey needs to approve. Sweden's application for membership in NATO greatly strengthens the defence and security policy reasons for granting the export of military equipment to other member states, including Turkey, the Inspectorate for Strategic Products, a Swedish administrative authority, said in

G7 finance ministers agree to impose price cap on Russian oil

The ministers from the club of wealthy industrial democracies confirmed their commitment to the plan after a virtual meeting

Prez Biden formalises US support for Finland, Sweden joining NATO

"In seeking to join NATO, Finland and Sweden are making a sacred commitment that an attack against one is an attack against all," Biden said at the signing

The West digs for the next energy battle

The 11-nation partnership to secure critical mineral supplies has the potential to influence future investments and trade flows in energy

US, allies aim to cap Russian oil prices to hinder Ukraine invasion

The Kremlin's main pillar of financial revenue oil has kept the Russian economy afloat despite export bans, sanctions and the freezing of central bank assets

Ahead of G-20 meeting, China slams US, NATO over political conflicts

China launched a scathing attack on the US and NATO on Wednesday, days before a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Ukraine war: India, China buy Russian oil and gas worth $24 bn in 3 months

China spent $18.9 billion on Russian oil, gas and coal in the three months to the end of May, almost double the amount a year earlier, latest customs data show

Russian forces gaining foothold in pivotal Luhansk province: Governor

Ukrainian fighters have spent weeks trying to defend the city of Lysychansk, and to keep it from falling to Russia, as neighbouring Sievierodonetsk did a week ago

NATO summit in Madrid concludes amid criticisms of bloc's aggression

NATO leaders agreed to strengthen the alliance's forward defenses, enhance the bloc's battlegroups on its eastern flank and increase the number of high readiness forces to more than 300,000

Sweden, Finland's decision to join NATO will make us more secure: Joe Biden

The NATO Alliance is proud to invite Finland and Sweden to become members, tweeted Biden

Ukraine's leader pushes for fuller NATO embrace, advanced weaponry

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chided NATO for not embracing his embattled country more fully and asked for more weapons to fight Russia's invasion, as the leaders of the alliance met

NATO alliance faces biggest challenge since World War II: Jens Stoltenberg

Stoltenberg said NATO allies meet in the midst of the most serious security crisis we have faced, as he arrived at the alliance's summit in Madrid

China's opposition to Yoon at NATO summit shows lack of courtesy: S Korea

South Korea is not a member of NATO but was invited to the summit along with Japan, Australia and New Zealand as the organisation's Asia-Pacific partners

Turkey greenlights Sweden, Finland's NATO bid, internal conflicts remain

I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that enables Sweden and Finland's membership in NATO: Stoltenberg

Attendance of Japan, S Korea at NATO Summit may stoke China's worst fears

For the first time, the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand will all attend a 30-member NATO Summit

NATO holds summit with gaze on Russian invasion, Chinese military expansion

NATO leaders are aiming to increase support for Ukraine's fight against Russian invasion, boost forces on NATO's eastern flank and set priorities for the coming decade