US To Use Sweden’s Bases Ahead Of NATO Membership
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Sweden has signed a defense cooperation accord with Washington that will allow the United States to use all military bases in the Scandinavian country that seeks to join the NATO military alliance.
The move was seen as a clear signal to Hungary and Turkey, who uphold Sweden’s NATO membership despite all other members already approving the country’s accession.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said the deal, signed in Washington last week, would “create better conditions for Sweden to be able to receive support from the United States in the event of a war or crisis.”
Jonson told Swedish broadcaster SVT that it didn’t mean that “all 17 locations will be used” but “where it is most important from a military perspective for them to be able to store defense equipment, for example.”
It was good news for the U.S. as Sweden’s strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland sits a little more than 299 kilometers (186 miles) from the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.
The United States struck a similar deal with Sweden’s western neighbor, NATO member Norway, in 2021.
It is currently negotiating such an agreement with NATO members Finland and Denmark, two other Nordic countries.
NEW MEMBERS
Sweden and its neighbor Finland decided to drop their long-standing policy of non-alignment and apply for NATO membership following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. Finland joined NATO in April.
All existing members must approve new members of the alliance.
Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO countries that have not formally approved Sweden’s accession bid.
However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was to visit Budapest on Monday, December 18, where he and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán were expected to discuss Sweden’s membership and other issues.
Ankara has delayed ratification for more than a year, accusing Sweden of not taking Turkey’s security concerns seriously, including its fight against Kurdish militants and other groups considered security threats.
Budapest has delayed ratification amid anger over Sweden criticizing Hungary’s perceived lack of democratic credentials, massive corruption, and rule of law troubles.
Yet Turkey has come under pressure to ratify expansion, with Hungary expected to follow Turkish approval.
PRODUCTIVE MEETING
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has now linked the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership to the approval by the U.S. Congress of Turkey’s request to purchase 40 F-16 fighter jets and kits to modernize its existing fleet.
The White House has backed the request but runs into opposition in the U.S. Congress.
Despite Sweden’s hurdles on the road to NATO membership, U.S. Defense Lloyd Austin said he had “a productive meeting” with Swedish Minister of Defence Jonson.
“It’s great to meet with a true partner and future NATO ally, especially as we face significant security challenges in Europe and across the globe,” Austin added.
With the U.S. increasing its presence in Sweden, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he told Turkey’s president “the time has come” to let Sweden join the military alliance.
But it was unlikely whether Ankara and Budapest would grant NATO membership as a Christmas present to the Nordic nation.
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