Table of Contents
The prime minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, says that the country cannot meet all of Turkey’s conditions to join NATO. However, Sweden thinks that Turkey will approve its application to become a NATO member.
At a security conference on Sunday, Kristersson said “Turkey both confirms that we have done what we said we would do, but they also say that they want things that we cannot or do not want to give them.”
In May 2022, Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine. Turkey, a NATO member, has some objections. It says that Finland and Sweden are supporting Kurdish rebels.
Turkey refused to approve their application to NATO until both countries agree to join Turkey’s fight against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). According to Turkey, the US and the European Union (EU), the PKK is a “terrorist” group.
In December, Turkey praised Sweden for trying to meet its conditions. However, Turkey also said that more needs to be done before it supports Sweden’s application to join NATO.
Of the 30 NATO countries, only Hungary and Turkey have not approved the applications from Finland and Sweden.
The prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, says that his country will approve Finland’s and Sweden’s applications soon.
Vocabulary
- Prime minister – the head or leader of an elected government of a country
- Condition – something that must exist or be true so that something else can happen (I will cook dinner tonight, under the condition that you wash the dishes)
- NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – an organization of a group of countries that agree to protect/defend each other
- Approve – officially agree; accept; to say “yes”; authorize
- Application – an official request for something, usually in writing
- Conference – an event where people meet to discuss something, sometimes for more than one day
- Apply – to request or ask for something, usually in writing
- Invade – to attack and enter a place/country using military force
- Objection – a statement or expression of disagreement or disapproval; to say ‘no’
- Rebel – someone who opposes or fights against a government or other authority
- Refuse – to say or show that you will not do something or that you do not want something
- According to – as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Terrorist – someone who uses violent action, or threats of violent action, for political purposes
- Praise – to cheer; to compliment; to approve of
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What role do you think other NATO countries and organizations like the EU and US have in the process of Finland and Sweden’s application to join NATO? How do you think their involvement may impact the outcome?
- What are Turkey’s conditions for approving Finland and Sweden’s application to join NATO? Why are they problematic for the countries?
- Why do you think Hungary has not yet approved Finland’s and Sweden’s application, and how do you think this may impact the outcome of their membership bid?
Original Story
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
