Sweden and Finland set to join NATO in May

[Storr]

"New promise to Alf Svensson: Hungary approves Sweden before the NATO meeting"

[President Johnson]

Despite his re-election victory, Erdogan continues to drag his feet:

No breakthrough in NATO-Turkey talks about Sweden joining

Stoltenberg arranged a new meeting between Turkish and Swedish delegations in the coming weeks though.

[Storr]

https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1666421740237406209?s=20

[Storr]

https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1667151613914382338?s=20

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

WaPo: Sen. Jim Risch blocks HIMARS sale to Hungary for stalling Sweden's NATO bid

The sale is ~$700m and includes 24 launchers. Hungary had not publicly announced it.

I'm a bit surprised by this - I thought Hungary's opposition was essentially trolling and therefore wouldn't be treated seriously.

[CumbrianLefty]

Maybe its something of a "friendly warning" to encourage Orban to do the right thing.

[Sir Mohamed]

WaPo: Sen. Jim Risch blocks HIMARS sale to Hungary for stalling Sweden's NATO bid

The sale is ~$700m and includes 24 launchers. Hungary had not publicly announced it.

I'm a bit surprised by this - I thought Hungary's opposition was essentially trolling and therefore wouldn't be treated seriously.

This time I have to agree with Risch. Hungary will probably give up its opposition once Erdogan does, still annoying though.

[Storr]

https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1668971735725555715?s=20

[President Johnson]

German newssources say that Erdogan wants a big deal done, including purchasing US fighter jets. Unfortunately he knows how to play his cards, especially since there's little leverage the other members have since a member can't be kicked out either. And even if it was possible, Turkey's geographical location is just too important for American presence (although I'd prefer Sweden and Finland in to Turkey and Hungary out; latter's membership of the EU should also be questioned).

[SnowLabrador]

Trump and Erdogan are just as culpable as Putin for the war in Ukraine. I hate this timeline.

[Sir Mohamed]

German newssources say that Erdogan wants a big deal done, including purchasing US fighter jets. Unfortunately he knows how to play his cards, especially since there's little leverage the other members have since a member can't be kicked out either. And even if it was possible, Turkey's geographical location is just too important for American presence (although I'd prefer Sweden and Finland in to Turkey and Hungary out; latter's membership of the EU should also be questioned).

Yup, the only possible mechanism is for all countries but Turkey and Hungary to leave NATO and form some kind of NATO 2.0. without them. Or just threaten to do so. That said, losing Turkey would for sure be a strategical mistake.

[Frodo]

Erdogan (like a true autocrat) has set his key condition for Sweden joining NATO -it must strip the Kurds of their right to free speech and assembly:

Erdogan tells NATO chief Sweden must stop Kurdish protests

[CumbrianLefty]

He can - conceivably - get them to promise to do it, but he can't actually make them do it can he?

Once they have been admitted due to such "promises", Erdogan loses his leverage.

[Storr]

https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1674042283929288705?s=20

[Storr]

"Hungary's parliament postponed ratifying Sweden’s NATO accession bid on Wednesday to its autumn legislative session."

https://twitter.com/DesmondTheD/status/1674120273509990402?s=20

[DavidB.]

https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1674042283929288705?s=20

Time for a serious investigation into the financial links between Russia and these Quran-burning groups in Sweden as they clearly aim to frustrate their NATO bid.

[Storr]

https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1674042283929288705?s=20

Time for a serious investigation into the financial links between Russia and these Quran-burning groups in Sweden as they clearly aim to frustrate their NATO bid.

Evidently this time it was an Iraqi refugee:

Sweden Quran burning: Protesters storm embassy in Baghdad

"Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of Islam's holy book outside Stockholm's central mosque on Wednesday."

[DavidB.]

Sweden Quran burning: Protesters storm embassy in Baghdad

"Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of Islam's holy book outside Stockholm's central mosque on Wednesday."

Nice way to thank your host country for letting you in: jeopardizing its national security.

[Frodo]

Thanks to Sultan Erdogan, Sweden isn't joining NATO -at least not by the NATO summit July 11-12 in Vilnius:

Erdogan signals Turkey isn't ready to ratify Sweden NATO membership, saying there's more work to do

[Torie]

Stop sales of military hardware to Turkey. Tell E that privately, but no sales. And no EU.

Does anyway have a link or an erudite opinion on the consequences of Turkey not cooperating with NATO?

[NewYorkExpress]

I vote for landing troops (preferably American, but if the rest of NATO can be convinced to send Troops that would be great) in Istanbul and moving to overthrow Erdogan.

[Gass3268]

https://twitter.com/business/status/1678484148124545031?s=20

[Gass3268]

https://twitter.com/jensstoltenberg/status/1678484703060324359?s=20

[Gass3268]

https://twitter.com/AmichaiStein1/status/1678487211765911552?s=20

[Hindsight was 2020]