Greece, Turkey declare their satisfaction with results of NATO summit

By George Gilson

Athens sees the agreement reached during talks between Turkey, Sweden, Finland, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to ply ahead with NATO membership for the two Nordic states as a development that will strengthen NATO in Europe, without any concessions that might affect Greek interests, according to Greek government sources.

The essential objective for Athens during the period of Turkey's bargaining with NATO and the US was to make sure that no concessions be made by the Alliance or the US that would in any way harm Greek interests or give credence to Turkey's territorial claims against Greece as a quid pro quo for Turkey lifting its threatened veto of the admission of the two Nordic countries.

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A telephone call between US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 28 June, ahead of the summit, appears to have paved the way for the shift in Ankara's stance.

Washington was keen on making it clear that it took Turkey's stated concerns on Sweden and Finland's alleged softness on groups like the PKK and its Syrian offshoots and on not making it appear that quid pro quos were involved in Ankara's shift.

"President Biden noted he looks forward to seeing President Erdogan at the NATO Summit in Madrid where leaders will discuss the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine for Transatlantic security and other threats to the Alliance such as terrorism, as well as take historic decisions to strengthen the Alliance's collective defense and security," the White House readout of the call stated.

The push toward NATO expansion has played a key role in a process of breaking the ice between Washington and Ankara, whose refusal to give up its...