The fact that Turkey is abandoning its veto means that Sweden is entering the next phase of the NATO process. But the question marks surrounding the agreement are still many, according to researcher Magnus Christiansson.
After Sweden and Finland reach an agreement with Turkey, the process of accession negotiations in Brussels will continue next week.
– This means that the membership negotiations for Sweden and Finland enter the next phase with a ratification process, says Magnus Christiansson, senior lecturer and NATO researcher at the Swedish National Defense College.
– It is a bit strange pirouette to make this declaration of intent, but on the other hand it can be a way for the Turks, who have had a very lofty rhetoric around this to be able to show something concrete to the outside world, he adds.
Loud game
According to Magnus Christiansson, it could be a high bargaining chip game of Turkey where the United States has finally put its foot down and the Turks have felt that they have had too much to lose.
– Sweden has done what it has been able to do when it comes to arms exports and when it comes to the Kurdish question, it has been clear for quite some time. I think this has been about something else.
For example, it could be that Turkey can have a meeting with US President Joe Biden, according to Magnus Christiansson.
All requirements?
At the same time, there are still many question marks surrounding the agreement and how it has been developed, which makes it difficult to express oneself, he emphasizes:
– YPG claims in the Turkish press that they have got through all their demands. While the only thing (Prime Minister) Magdalena Andersson says is that Sweden may look at Turkey in a different way in its arms export legislation. She does not mention the Kurds at all.
According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Finland and Sweden will not provide support to the (Kurdish movements) YPG / PYD and the organization described as the FETÖ (Gülen movement) in Turkey.
– At the press conference, Stoltenberg says that there will be an extradition agreement between Sweden and Turkey. What will it look like? How will it be designed and what will that legislation look like? There are a lot of question marks after this that have to do with the nature of the negotiation and what has been said between the parties, says Magnus Christiansson.