NATO has not ruled out accepting new members and it is up to countries such as Sweden and Finland to decide whether they want to join, the head of the Alliance’s military committee said today.
“It is a free decision for any country wishing to join NATO to apply for membership, something they have not done so far,” Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer told reporters during a visit to Seoul. “We are not forcing anyone to join NATO,” he said.
He further added that the Alliance has not pressured any country to supply arms to Ukraine.
During a visit to the South Korean capital this week, Bauer discussed the war in Ukraine as well as military cooperation between Seoul and NATO.
His visit coincided with a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the South Korean parliament on Monday, during which he asked Seoul for military assistance, including armor and anti-aircraft missiles.
Bauer said he had discussed Zelensky’s request with South Korean officials, but confirmed their intention to offer non-lethal assistance to Ukraine at this time.
“If President Zelensky asks for such systems, it means he needs them,” he said.
However, the South Korean government decides whether it intends and can send weapons to Ukraine, he added, stressing that NATO has not asked Seoul to offer arms to Kyiv, nor does it offer arms to it, although Alliance members do. .
Bauer noted that the non-lethal assistance – helmets and medical kits, among others – that South Korea has sent to Ukraine is also significant.
He said that according to NATO estimates, Russia will focus on eastern Ukraine, having initially attacked various fronts.
NATO and its members will continue to offer “everything possible” to ensure Ukraine’s survival, but will not send its own aircraft or army into the country, Bauer said.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
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