Turkey's Erdogan Bows to Greater NATO Expansion Along Russia's Borders

by Stephen Lendman

After Finnish and Swedish authorities announced their intention to joint NATO's war-making alliance, Turkey's Erdogan — with veto power over the move — objected unless demands he made were agreed on.

Among others, they included denunciation of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), along with cracking down on their activities in Finland and Sweden.

It's unclear if his demands were entirely or partially agreed on.

Yet on Tuesday, a NATO statement said that he, along with his Finnish and Swedish counterparts, met with US-installed alliance puppet Stoltenberg in Madrid, adding:

They "agreed…to address Turkey's security concerns, paving the way for Finland and Sweden's NATO membership."

Finland shares an 808-mile long border with Russia.

Other NATO states bordering the Russian Federation include Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Poland.

In response on Wednesday, Russia's lower house State Duma Chairman of its International Affairs Committee, Leonid Slutsky, said the following:

"The accession of Finland and Sweden…to the front line of the alliance and…rejection of (their) non-aligned status (is their) choice." 

"However, they should clearly understand the consequences such a step would have on their relations with Russia and on the general security architecture in Europe, which is already in deep crisis."

US-dominated NATO's war-making machine's claim to be "defensive (in) nature (is a deceptive) smokescreen."

"For Russia, NATO's eastward expansion began not with the alliance inviting Sweden and Finland to get onboard, but by breaking promises once made to president (Gorbachev) of the Soviet Union" over 30 years ago about not expanding "one inch eastward." 

"Since then, we have already seen several waves of this kind, which time after time triggered new concerns on ensuring the security and national interests of our country."

"(I)f I were Turkey, I would not be too flattered about assurances I received in exchange for not vetoing the Finns' and Swedes' accession to NATO."

"Gorbachev was also once promised something," then betrayed by the empire of lies and forever wars on invented enemies.

Reportedly a ban on the sale of certain US/Western weapons to Turkey was lifted — along with a hollow vow to combat terrorism supported by the war-making alliance — for going along with permitting Finland and Sweden to join NATO.

A statement by Erdogan's office said the following on Tuesday:

"Turkey got what it wanted."

"The countries agreed to fully cooperate with Turkey in the fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party and its branches."

"The embargo on supplies of defense industry products will be lifted."

"Cooperation on this track will be expanded."

"A structured cooperation mechanism will be established for intelligence sharing in the fight against terrorism."

"Maximum participation of Finland and Sweden in EU security mechanisms will be supported."

"Stockholm and Helsinki undertook commitments to make amendments to legislations to combat terrorism."

Restrictions were lifted on supplying designated US/Western weapons to Turkey.

According to international intelligence analyst Leonardo Paz Neves:

NATO regimes "put strong pressure on Turkey and undoubtedly, internal talks were held with Turkey to make it stop obstructing the process, which is very important to" the US-dominated alliance. 

"Had they been unable to grant NATO membership to Finland and Sweden, it would have been a huge diplomatic failure, particularly at a time when NATO seeks to demonstrate unity in a standoff with Russia."

On Tuesday, leaders of Turkey, Finland and Sweden signed a joint memorandum on the accession of the latter two countries to the war-making alliance.

A Final Comment

On Tuesday, a trilateral agreement among Finland, Sweden and Turkey said the following:

"Today the representatives of Turkiye, Finland and Sweden, under the auspices of the NATO Secretary General, have agreed the following.

NATO is an alliance based on the principles of collective defense and the indivisibility of security, as well as on common values (sic).

Turkiye, Finland and Sweden affirm their adherence to the principles and values enshrined in the Washington Treaty.

One of the key elements of the alliance is unwavering solidarity and cooperation in the fight against terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, which constitutes a direct threat to the national security of allies as well as to international peace and security (sic).

As prospective NATO Allies, Finland and Sweden extend their full support to Turkiye against threats to its national security. 

To that effect, Finland and Sweden will not provide support to YPG/PYD, and the organization described as FETO in Turkiye. 

Turkiye also extends its full support to Finland and Sweden against threats to their national security. 

Finland and Sweden reject and condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in the strongest terms. 

Finland and Sweden unambiguously condemn all terrorist organizations perpetrating attacks against Turkiye, and express their deepest solidarity with Turkiye and the families of the victims.

Finland and Sweden confirm that the PKK is a proscribed terrorist organization. 

Finland and Sweden commit to prevent activities of the PKK and all other terrorist organizations and their extensions, as well as activities by individuals in affiliated and inspired groups or networks linked to these terrorist organizations. 

Turkiye, Finland and Sweden agreed to step up cooperation to prevent the activities of these terrorist groups. 

Finland and Sweden reject the goals of these terrorist organizations.

Further to this, Finland refers to several recent amendments of its Criminal Code by which new acts have been enacted as punishable terrorist crimes. 

The latest amendments entered into force on 1 January 2022, by which the scope of participation in the activity of a terrorist group has been widened. 

At the same time, public incitement related to terrorist offenses was criminalized as a separate offense. 

Sweden confirms that a new, tougher, Terrorist Offenses Act enters into force on 1 July, and that the government is preparing further tightening of counter-terrorism legislation.

Turkiye, Finland and Sweden confirm that now there are no national arms embargoes in place between them. 

Sweden is changing its national regulatory framework for arms exports in relation to NATO Allies. 

In future, defense exports from Finland and Sweden will be conducted in line with alliance solidarity and in accordance with the letter and spirit of article 3 of the Washington Treaty.

Today, Turkiye, Finland and Sweden commit to the following concrete steps:

Establish a joint, structured dialogue and cooperation mechanism at all levels of government, including between law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to enhance cooperation on counter-terrorism, organized crime, and other common challenges as they so decide.

Finland and Sweden will conduct the fight against terrorism with determination, resolve, and in accordance with the provisions of the relevant NATO documents and policies, and will take all required steps to tighten further domestic legislation to this end.

Finland and Sweden will address Turkiye's pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects expeditiously and thoroughly, taking into account information, evidence and intelligence provided by Turkiye, and establish necessary bilateral legal frameworks to facilitate extradition and security cooperation with Turkiye, in accordance with the European Convention on Extradition.

Finland and Sweden will investigate and interdict any financing and recruitment activities of the PKK and all other terrorist organizations and their extensions, as well affiliates or inspired groups or networks. 

Turkiye, Finland and Sweden commit to fight disinformation, and prevent their domestic laws from being abused for the benefit or promotion of terrorist organizations, including through activities that incite violence against Turkiye.

Finland and Sweden will ensure that their respective national regulatory frameworks for arms exports enable new commitments to Allies and reflects their status as NATO members.

Finland and Sweden commit to support the fullest possible involvement of Turkiye and other non-EU Allies in the existing and prospective initiatives of the European Union's Common Security and Defense Policy, including Turkiye's participation in the PESCO Project on Military Mobility.

For the implementation of these steps, Turkiye, Finland and Sweden will establish a Permanent Joint Mechanism, with the participation of experts from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Justice, as well as Intelligence Services and Security Institutions. 

The Permanent Joint Mechanism will be open for others to join.

Turkiye confirms its longstanding support for NATO's open door policy, and agrees to support at the 2022 Madrid Summit the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO."