Description
Added on the 16/05/2022 16:49:08 - Copyright : AFP EN
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
Turkey signs a memorandum with Finland and Sweden supporting the invitation for the two Nordic countries to become members of NATO. IMAGES
"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
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says the country is ready to discuss Finland and Sweden's plans to join NATO, despite accusing them of harbouring "terrorist organisations". SOUNDBITE of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
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