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Added on the 16/05/2022 20:33:53 - Copyright : France 24 EN
"We're confident that at the end of the day, Finland and Sweden will have an effective and efficient accession process, that Turkey's concerns can be addressed," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says during a press briefing at the White House, in reference to Finland and Sweden's bid to join NATO. SOUNDBITE
Sweden joining NATO shows Russian President Vladimir Putin "failed" in his Ukrainian war strategy of weakening the alliance, its chief Jens Stoltenberg says. The Kremlin's invasion not only prompted formerly non-aligned nations Sweden and Finland to come under NATO's defence umbrella, but now "Ukraine is closer to NATO membership than ever before," Stoltenberg adds. SOUNDBITE
"We are addressing the concerns that Turkey has expressed because when an ally, an important ally as Turkey raises security concerns, raises issues, then of course, the only way to deal with that is to sit down and find ways to find a common ground and an agreement on how to move forward" says NATO secreteray general Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference in Denmark. SOUNDBITE
The Prime Minsster of Finland, Sanna Marin, confirms in a press conference that a report on the case for Finland making an application to NATO will be heard in parliament after the Easter break and that she expects a decision to be made within the "upcoming weeks". SOUNDBITE
The NATO flag is hoisted at a military base in the Swedish capital Stockholm, symbolising the Nordic country's accession into the military alliance. On 7 March 2024, Sweden became the 32nd member of NATO in the shadow of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, turning the page on two centuries of non-alignment. IMAGES
Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson says the "northern flank of NATO is more complete" as he holds a press conference with his Norwegian and Finnish counterparts in Troms, Norway. Swedish troops are taking part in a vast NATO military exercise to simulate repelling an invasion of neighbouring Norway. SOUNDBITE