Potential NATO membership for Sweden and Finland

[Amled]

Sweden agrees to extradite man to Turkey in wake of NATO deal

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's government has decided to extradite a man to Turkey wanted for fraud, it said on Thursday, the first case since Turkey demanded a number of people extradited in return for allowing Stockholm to formally apply for NATO membership.

NATO ally Turkey lifted its veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the Western alliance in June after weeks of tense negotiations where Ankara accused the two Nordic countries of harbouring what Turkey says are militants of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

As part of the deal, Turkey submitted a list of people it wanted Sweden to extradite, but has since expressed frustration over the lack of progress.

The man, in his 30s, would be the first known case of an extradition to Turkey since the deal was struck.

"This is a normal routine matter. The person in question is a Turkish citizen and convicted of fraud offences in Turkey in 2013 and 2016," Minister of Justice Morgan Johansson told Reuters in a text message.

"The Supreme Court has examined the issue as usual and concluded that there are no obstacles to extradition," he said.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice declined to say if the man was on the list of people Turkey has demanded to have extradited or to provide further comment on the matter.

Swedish broadcaster SVT, which was first to report on the extradition, said the man was sentenced in Turkey to 14 years in prison on several accounts of bank card fraud.

The man, detained in Sweden since last year, says he has been wrongfully sentenced because he is a convert to Christianity, refused to do military service and has Kurdish roots, SVT said.
________

I checked an article in a Swedish paper, and apparently the man had been in police custody for more than a year,
pending deportation back to Turkey for incarceration for fraud. His case was decide months before Sweden’s NATO application,
Maybe the poor schmuck can be used as a “fig leaf” for both Sweden and Turkey!
The Swedes can claim to live up to agreement to “deport” criminal Kurds.
Turkey can point to the “schmuck” and claim to have gotten Sweden to accede to Erdogan’s demands!
Poor schmuck!!!

[TopHatter]

Sweden agrees to extradite man to Turkey in wake of NATO deal

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's government has decided to extradite a man to Turkey wanted for fraud, it said on Thursday, the first case since Turkey demanded a number of people extradited in return for allowing Stockholm to formally apply for NATO membership.

NATO ally Turkey lifted its veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the Western alliance in June after weeks of tense negotiations where Ankara accused the two Nordic countries of harbouring what Turkey says are militants of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

As part of the deal, Turkey submitted a list of people it wanted Sweden to extradite, but has since expressed frustration over the lack of progress.

The man, in his 30s, would be the first known case of an extradition to Turkey since the deal was struck.

"This is a normal routine matter. The person in question is a Turkish citizen and convicted of fraud offences in Turkey in 2013 and 2016," Minister of Justice Morgan Johansson told Reuters in a text message.

"The Supreme Court has examined the issue as usual and concluded that there are no obstacles to extradition," he said.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice declined to say if the man was on the list of people Turkey has demanded to have extradited or to provide further comment on the matter.

Swedish broadcaster SVT, which was first to report on the extradition, said the man was sentenced in Turkey to 14 years in prison on several accounts of bank card fraud.

The man, detained in Sweden since last year, says he has been wrongfully sentenced because he is a convert to Christianity, refused to do military service and has Kurdish roots, SVT said.
________

[Amled]

Kipling wrote of the inadvisability of paying “Danegeld” (giving in to extortion!)
in that the “Dane” inevitably will return for more.
Here we have Erdogan in the role of the Dane!!!
https://sweden.postsen.com/news/2420...-get-more.html

[Amled]

Turkey knows it is important so Erdogan is seeing just how effectively he can play both sides of the fence. Been doing it for years. maybe there will be a serious consequence at some point, but if Erdogan can't get something useful to him now he won't have to worry about that.

Teeth will need to be gritted & deals done.

There comes a time when it’s not possible to grit your teeth, and be forced take an unpalatable deal;
in spite of it being the “right” thing to do!
Erdogan wants his pound of flesh; 73 Kurds from Sweden, and 12 from Finland returned to face Turkish “justice”!
He has to know that these people have been granted political refugee status in their host country, and in some become citizens.
That unlike in his Autocratic state, they can’t be deprived of their status without due process; which in western democracies are a lengthy procedure.
I don’t foresee the Finnish or Swedish government making a “Sophie’s Choice”, and tossing the Kurds to the lions in the spirit of:
“…the needs of the many outweighs the needs of the few”!
In some ways it is similar to what Putin used at the beginning of his war. Making demands he knew were unfulfillable.
There was a number of talking heads that agreed that his ultimate demands were bargaining ploys;
designed to be thrown away for what he really wanted.
They were wrong!
Erdogan must be aware that his demands are just as unreasonable, at least in the short term.
So unless he is able to be bought off with the repeal of the arms embargo levied against Turkey, the Finns and Swedes are left out in the cold!
…and Putin the Putz is laughing his ass off!!!

[Chunder]

Oh I think keeping the overarching agreement is worthwhile - but putting it on ice may be best for now - I'm not sure he's got many years left in him.

[Bigfella]

Seems to me as though Turkey is quite happy to run with the wolves & hunt with the hounds.

Turkey knows it is important so Erdogan is seeing just how effectively he can play both sides of the fence. Been doing it for years. maybe there will be a serious consequence at some point, but if Erdogan can't get something useful to him now he won't have to worry about that.

Teeth will need to be gritted & deals done.

[Chunder]

Seems to me as though Turkey is quite happy to run with the wolves & hunt with the hounds.

[TopHatter]

Well, Russia isn't the USSR anymore, so to what end is Turkey a key component? As far as Turkey is concerned, they're just as interested in Greece as they are Russia. Historically speaking playing Huckster hasn't turned out particularly great for them. Erdo isn't a Muburak, at the same time it isn't really the safe play that it used to be.

Either there's some back channel diplomacy and all front, or like you say, ultimatums may just be laid down.

Turkey is still a large and militarily powerful country that controls access to the Black Sea.

And while Russia isn't the Soviet Union, they're still a major nuclear power and, until recently at least, a major conventional military and economic power....and could very well be one again.

[Chunder]

Well, Russia isn't the USSR anymore, so to what end is Turkey a key component? As far as Turkey is concerned, they're just as interested in Greece as they are Russia. Historically speaking playing Huckster hasn't turned out particularly great for them. Erdo isn't a Muburak, at the same time it isn't really the safe play that it used to be.

Either there's some back channel diplomacy and all front, or like you say, ultimatums may just be laid down.

[Amled]

“Playing both ends against the middle”, can be very profitable, but at some point the huckster will have to choose sides!
You have to wonder when the other NATO members have given their affirmation on Sweden and Finland joining the Alliance,
what the repercussions would be if Turkey hold steadfast in their ultimatums?

https://www.ft.com/content/00badf9e-...c-9ac1c2207835

[Amled]

Especially with news stories like this floating around!
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/t...putin-proposed

[Amled]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-nuclear-plant

"...and now Erdogan is off for another visit to his paymaster!"
You really have to wonder what the Ukrainians are thinking in respect to Turkey?

[Amled]

Look on the bright side Joe, You only got two high ranking politicians living in the Putz's pocket!

[TopHatter]

Senate votes 95-1 to add Sweden, Finland to NATO

The Senate on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to approve a resolution ratifying Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to the NATO, sending another signal that Congress remains unified in opposing Russian aggression toward Ukraine and Europe.

The Senate voted 95 to 1 to approve the resolution, with every member of the Democratic caucus and most Republicans voting in support. It ratifies protocols of accession that NATO allies signed on July 5.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who argued in a recent op-ed that the United States should focus on containing China instead of expanding NATO, was the only Republican to vote “no.” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted “present” on the resolution.

“We cannot strengthen our deterrent posture in the Pacific if we’re sending more forces and resources to Europe to defend new allies. That’s the bottom line,” Hawley said on the floor before the vote.

The resolution was a top priority of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who visited Sweden and Finland in May as part of a congressional delegation that also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

McConnell insisted the Senate ratify Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO membership before leaving for the monthlong August recess.

“There is just no question that admitting these robust democratic countries with modern economies and capable, interoperable militaries will only strengthen the most successful military alliance in human history,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.

McConnell noted that Sweden and Finland already participate in NATO- and American-led missions and that Finland already meets NATO’s target that members spend at least 2 percent of their national gross domestic product on defense.

He suggested that Republican colleagues who voted against expanding NATO made a mistake, arguing that standing up to Russian aggression will send a strong message to Chinese leaders.

“Even closer cooperation with these partners will help us counter Russia and China. Their accession will make NATO stronger and America more secure,” he said.

“If any senator is looking for a defensible excuse to vote ‘no,’ I wish them good luck. This is a slam dunk for national security that deserves unanimous bipartisan support,” he added.

The Senate resolution supports Finland’s and Sweden’s decision to join NATO and calls on all NATO members to move quickly to complete the ratification process.

The U.S. would be the 20th of 30 NATO countries to ratify the two nations’ entries.

Lawmakers say the Senate vote is the latest example of how Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has strengthened the resolve of NATO members. They say that Putin wrongly thought he would divide Western allies.

“Enlarging NATO is exactly the opposite of what Putin envisioned when he ordered his tanks to invade Ukraine. Indeed, he may have been trying to test the resolve of the alliance, and I am pleased that we have passed that test with overwhelming unity of vision and purpose,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

The House voted 394 to 18 last month for a companion resolution to express support for Finland and Sweden joining NATO. The 18 “no” votes were all Republicans.

Finland shares an 800-mile border with Russia. Sweden doesn’t share a border with Russia but shares a strategic interest with Russia in the Baltic Sea, which gives Russia’s naval fleet access to the Atlantic.

Russia in June threatened to deploy nuclear weapons along its northwestern border if Finland and Sweden joined NATO.
____________

<Insert tremendous fist-pump here>

And Josh Hawley and Rand Paul, after you pick up this month's paycheck from the Kremlin, you may feel free to fornicate yourselves with an iron rod.

Speaking of useful idiots....

[TopHatter]

Hawley vows to vote ‘no’ on adding Sweden and Finland to NATO

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Monday said he would vote against Finland’s and Sweden’s bids to join NATO, a move that would go against most of his colleagues from both sides of the aisle.

In an op-ed published by The National Interest, Hawley says the United States shouldn’t expand its security commitments in Europe due to a more pressing threat from China.

“Finland and Sweden want to join the Atlantic Alliance to head off further Russian aggression in Europe. That is entirely understandable given their location and security needs,” Hawley wrote.

“But America’s greatest foreign adversary doesn’t loom over Europe. It looms in Asia. I am talking of course about the People’s Republic of China. And when it comes to Chinese imperialism, the American people should know the truth: the United States is not ready to resist it. Expanding American security commitments in Europe now would only make that problem worse—and America, less safe.”

Finland and Sweden in May announced their intentions to join NATO following Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The governments of 19 NATO countries have since ratified the two Nordic nations joining the alliance. Eleven, including the United States, have yet to do so. All 30 member states must approve the additions.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wants senators to vote on enlarging the alliance before the lawmakers leave Washington, D.C., for a monthlong break set to start Aug. 8.

Finland’s and Sweden’s requests have received widespread support from both Democrats and Republicans. But Hawley — who was one of the 11 conservatives who opposed the $40 billion Ukraine aid package Congress passed in May — insists the United States isn’t prepared to go against both Moscow and Beijing.

“As the 2018 and 2022 U.S. National Defense Strategies both acknowledge, the United States cannot defeat China and Russia in two major wars at the same time. And we are not where we need to be in Asia,” Hawley wrote.

Citing distractions from “nation-building activities in the Middle East and legacy commitments in Europe,” Hawley says the U.S. is not prepared to fend off Chinese military aggression in the Pacific should it happen.

“In the face of this stark reality, we must choose. We must do less in Europe (and elsewhere) in order to prioritize China and Asia.”

While Hawley says the U.S. government shouldn’t abandon NATO, he suggests European allies could take on more responsibility in defending Europe by investing more in their own militaries.

Hawley’s stance goes against that of the majority of his fellow Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who last week said the United States “would be fortunate to have two new treaty allies as impressive and capable as Finland and Sweden.”

Eighteen House Republicans last month voted against a symbolic resolution to support Finland and Sweden joining NATO.
___________

You little chickenshit mf'er....