Thread: The Ukraine Situation

Official now

Finland and Sweden apply for NATO membership

Both these countries bring serious military capabilities with them, the exact opposite of what Putin wanted

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Official now

Finland and Sweden apply for NATO membership

Both these countries bring serious military capabilities with them, the exact opposite of what Putin wanted

Let's hope Turkey doesn't throw a spanner (wrench) in the works eh?

Originally Posted by STF

Let's hope Turkey doesn't throw a spanner (wrench) in the works eh?

They are doing some grumbling but in the end having those two in NATO is a rather large boost

Originally Posted by gssixgun

They are doing some grumbling but in the end having those two in NATO is a rather large boost

I think it is going to be a little more complicated with Turkey than most would think. Turkey is a member of NATO and controls the very important choke point that separates the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. That may make Turkey important to NATO if for no other reason. Turkey is not a member of the EU despite trying to join for years and being rejected/stalled on the issue. Turkey has already bought batteries of Russian S-400 surface to air missiles to the great displeasure of NATO.

The question, to me, is Turkey trying to leverage it's admission to the EU by raising objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO? How far are they willing to go on the issue considering they already have bought Russian weapons directly against NATO's expressed wishes? Time is of the essence concerning getting Finland and Sweden into NATO given the current situation with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Any delays in doing that are not a very good idea at this point. I think there is a little more to it than just some grumbling from Turkey. I really hope I am wrong though.

Bob

Turkey is a problem country. It's leader ain't too far off from being like Orban and he tries to throw it's weight around.

In a way it's almost a rogue nation, very unpredictable.

News last night was that Turkey withdrew any objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO

It's about time they ceased objecting. I wonder what Turkey got as a pacifier to drop those objections?

Bob

Originally Posted by gssixgun

News last night was that Turkey withdrew any objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO

Looks like Finland and Sweden have now been officially invited to join NATO.

Referring to the last words of the NATO Secretary in Europe - If Ukraine falls and Russia attacks NATO countries, NATO must prepare for several dozen years of war. For the Baltic countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, this probably means several dozen years of occupation and war, despite their alliance in NATO. It's the same as in 1939, when the Nazis attacked Poland - Western Europe did nothing. Several dozen years of war = no one will do anything immediately.

Really easy for us in the US to pontificate and play arm chair general. Folks like our new friend in Poland have a much more dire outlook. They have a much more stark reality than we do.