Pentagon: Turkey’s position in NATO has not changed due to Erdogan’s statements on Sweden-Finland

The United States are working to clarify the comments made by the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan for accession of Finland and Sweden to NATOHowever, Ankara’s position in the Alliance has not changed because of these statements, a Pentagon spokesman said tonight.

The USA they want “Better understand the attitude of Turkey”clarified the Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, noting that this country is a “valuable ally” in NATO and “this has not changed”. Turkey “Was involved and effective in trying to establish a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine and provided assistance to Ukraine”, he added. “Therefore, nothing changes in terms of its position in the NATO alliance.”

Washington “Works to clarify Turkey’s position” said tonight in turn the White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

The future membership of these two countries is widely supported by the other members of the Alliance, the spokeswoman stressed.

THE Finland and the Sweden they can become members of NATO only if all its members vote unanimously in favor of their membership.

Erdogan’s remarks were a chill for the process that has so far been supported by most member states, including the United States, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said he is ready to welcome the two countries “with open arms”.

It was preceded by a statement from Karen Donfried, Undersecretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, according to which United States seeks to clarify Turkey’s position on Sweden, Finland joining NATO.

Erdogan said earlier today that It is not possible for Turkey to support plans for Sweden and Finland to join NATO because these Scandinavian countries “host many terrorist organizations”.

The Turkish president also said he did not want to “To see the same mistake repeated as the one committed during the accession of Greece”.

For some analysts, Turkey may want to gain a regular advantage in order to receive compensatory benefits from NATO member countries. Ankara mainly wants to buy American F-16 fighters as well as the necessary spare parts for the maintenance and modernization of the F-16 aircraft it already has. Turkey had also given $ 1.4 billion to acquire F-35 fighter jets, which were never delivered. The United States froze the deal in 2019 after Turkey bought the S-400 anti-missile system from Russia, which is considered a threat to the F-35s. Washington then excluded Turkey from this program of developing state-of-the-art fighter jets.

Erdogan’s “bargain” with F-16s to join NATO Finland-Sweden – The 2 times he “stood up” and lost

The President of Turkey found an opportunity for another “bargain” on the occasion of the accession of the two Scandinavian countries to NATO. Unification of the Allies is required for the two states to join the North Atlantic Alliance.

Saying that he “does not see positively” the accession of the two Scandinavian countries to NATO, he threatens indirectly but clearly with a veto and seeks reciprocity.

First of all, with these two countries accusing them of supporting the Kurdish terrorist organization PKK in Ankara, on the other hand it threatens NATO and the USA to at least ensure the modernization of the Turkish F-16s, as well as with the now given the Congress is not positive in this direction.

As he explains the correspondent of SKAI in Istanbul Manolis Kostidisanalysts commented that Tayyip Erdogan in recent history it has “grown tall” twice – and lost.

The First time with Pastor Branson, when then-US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy the Turkish economy, and within a day Branson went to the US, and the second time with the S-400 anti-aircraft system, with the result that Turkey suffered great damage, as it was excluded from the program of co-production of state-of-the-art F-35 fighters, does not use S-400s, and begs for F-16s.

It is even noted that Erdogan accused the US of “supporting terrorism”, ie the PKK in northern Syria, warning “to watch their steps”.