Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the decision for Sweden and Finland to join the alliance was made thanks to the negotiations he conducted with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the agreements reached.
In his assessment ahead of the NATO summit to be held in Ankara, Stoltenberg said that his main expectation from the summit was for the alliance to send a message of unity.
Emphasis on Support for Ukraine
Speaking on the alliance's agenda, Stoltenberg noted that conveying the message of continued support for Ukraine is extremely important. He said that a credible deterrence would prevent miscalculation in Moscow or any other capital.
Stoltenberg stated that the most serious security issue NATO currently faces is the ongoing war in Ukraine, reminding that Russia has been conducting a military assault on its neighbor since February 24, 2022.
Turkey's Strategic Position
Touching upon Turkey's contributions to the alliance, Stoltenberg said, "Turkey has been one of NATO's most important allies for many years. This stems from its geographical location neighboring Iraq and Syria, its critical role in the fight against ISIS, and its strategic position close to Russia via the Black Sea."
Expressing his satisfaction that Ankara is hosting the summit, Stoltenberg emphasized that it will be an extremely important summit.
The Greatest Source of Pride
Stoltenberg stated that the decision he was most proud of during his tenure as Secretary General, which ended in October 2024, was Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO, adding that the process was not easy and that the two countries had followed a policy of neutrality for centuries.
Finland officially became a NATO member in 2023, and Sweden in 2024.
