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NATO

Stoltenberg ‘everything we asked for’: US envoy

The United States has praised Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as “everything we asked for” in a ringing endorsement of the former Norwegian Prime Minister’s first four months in the post.

Published: 11 February 2015 19:41 CET
Stoltenberg 'everything we asked for': US envoy
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Photo: NATO Multimedia Library/NIDS/NTB scanpix
Douglas Lute, the US’s ambassador to Nato, praised Stoltenberg for his “leadership style” and “position of strength” in dealing with the Russians. 
 
“In his first few months Stoltenberg has shown that he is everything that we asked for,” Lute told Norway’s Dagbladet newspaper in a conference call with journalists. 
 
“Jens Stoltenberg has a leadership style that is important for the alliance,” Lute continued, saying that this was crucial to holding together the 28-nation alliance. 
 
He particularly commended Stoltenberg’s dealings with the Russians, crucial as Russian aggression in Ukraine risks drawing Nato into a military conflict.  
 
“He is very balanced,” Lute said of Stoltenberg’s handling of talks with Russia. “As prime minister of Norway, he has had a lot of personal experience dealing with Russia. He acts from a base of strength, but he also has a willingness to open dialogue.” 
 
Stoltenberg met Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. 
 
“It’s clear that we assess the situation in Ukraine in very different ways,” Stoltenberg told reporters after the meeting. “I repeated Nato’s strong support for a sovereign, independent Ukraine and I also underscored Russia’s responsibility for the critical situation because Russia is supporting the separatists and because Russia does not respect the rules.”
 

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NATO

Sweden strikes deal with Turkey over Nato membership

Sweden has finally won the backing of Turkey's President Erdogan for its Nato membership, with a deal struck on the eve of the alliance's Vilnius summit opening the way for Turkish ratification "as soon as possible".

Published: 10 July 2023 21:40 CEST
Sweden strikes deal with Turkey over Nato membership

“President Erdogan has agreed to forward the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification,” Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after the deal was struck. “This is a historic step which makes all Nato allies stronger and safer.” 

At the press conference, Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson, said it had been “a long day in a long journey towards Swedish membership”. 

“I am extremely happy,” he said. “This is a good day for Sweden”. 

In a separate joint statement, Sweden repeated its commitments to help Turkey in its “fight against terrorism” making an addition pledge to support Turkey’s in its long-stalled efforts to join the EU. 

“Sweden will actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkiye’s EU accession process, including modernisation of the EU-Turkiye Customs Union and
visa liberalisation,” the statement said.

In return, Turkey said it “will transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly, and work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification.”

Turkey has been holding up Sweden’s application to join the Atlantic alliance, accusing Stockholm of harbouring Kurdish activists Ankara regards as
terrorists.

And on Monday, Erdogan upped the stakes further, demanding that the European Union revive Turkey’s stalled EU membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining Nato.

Shortly before the deal was announced Erdogan interrupted his talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to hold talks with Charles Michel, the President of the EU Council. 

Michel hailed a “good meeting”, adding that they had “explored opportunities ahead to bring EU-Turkey cooperation back to the forefront and re-energise our relations”.

Turkey has been a formal candidate to join the European Union since 2005, and an aspirant since long before that, but talks have long been stalled with little sign of life.

US President Joe Biden welcomed the agreement. 

“I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area,” he said in a statement, adding: “I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally.”

“The path for Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s membership of Nato is finally clear,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on Twitter, hailing the “good news from Vilnius”.

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