Theme

Geostrategic Europe

Stories related to European foreign policy and Europe as a global power.

Opinion: Sweden must re-evaluate its internal and external relations before NATO accession can become reality
Given the increasingly uncertain political climate in which Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson finds himself, Sweden requires an internal and external positional re-evaluation in order to finalise its accession to NATO, writes Alfred Stranne in this op-ed for commonspace.eu. Meanwhile, Sweden needs to understand the increasing anger coming from Ankara, which is severely hindering its progression towards becoming a member of the alliance. Meanwhile, Sweden must also look within NATO itself to seek support in reassuring Ankara that Sweden will be a significant security provider for the alliance, providing added benefits for Ankara as well. This would repair Sweden’s relations with Turkey and reassure Ankara that despite the ideological and religious differences between Kristersson and Erdogan, Sweden and Turkey have common interests in seeking regional peace and stability.
patrickn97 Fri, 02/03/2023 - 09:33 Turkey rules out support for Sweden NATO bid after Stockholm protests
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has said that Sweden should not expect support from Ankara over its bid to join NATO following protests in Stockholm at the weekend. Surrounded by police for his protection, on Saturday (21 January) Danish-Swedish, far-right, anti-Islam activist Rasmus Paludan burned the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm while making disparaging remarks about immigrants and Islam. This incensed President Erdogan who criticised the Swedish authorities for letting the stunt happen. “It is clear that those who allowed such vileness to take place in front of our embassy can no longer expect any charity from us regarding their NATO membership application,” Erdogan said on Monday (23 January). Another bone of contention between Sweden and Turkey regarding the former's accession to NATO concerns the Kurdish question. Later on Saturday following Paludan's stunt, there was a pro-Kurdish demonstration in Stockholm where flags of various Kurdish groups were waved, including that of the Kurdish Workers' Party, or the PKK. The PKK has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey, and although it is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, its symbols are not banned in Sweden.
patrickn97 Mon, 01/23/2023 - 18:53

Filter archive

Editor's choice
News
GEU Podcast: How does Brexit affect Europe’s global ambitions? – with Dr Fabian Zuleeg

GEU Podcast: How does Brexit affect Europe’s global ambitions? – with Dr Fabian Zuleeg

It’s 2021 and the United Kingdom has formally left the European Union. In this episode of Global Europe Unpacked, Will Murray speaks to Dr Fabian Zuleeg, the Chief Executive and Chief Economist of the European Policy Centre in Brussels, about how the absence of the UK will impact the EU’s global ambitions and prospects for UK-EU relations going forward.
Editor's choice
News
Intensive diplomatic activity as Turkey and EU seek ways to restart relationship

Intensive diplomatic activity as Turkey and EU seek ways to restart relationship

After meeting Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Brussels on Friday (22 January) European Council president Charles Michel tweeted that dialogue needs to produce tangible outcomes. Michel and Commission president Ursula von der Leyen are expected to visit Ankara soon at the invitation of president Erdogan.
Editor's choice
News
GEU Podcast: What does President Biden mean for the EU-US relationship? – with Dr Dan S. Hamilton

GEU Podcast: What does President Biden mean for the EU-US relationship? – with Dr Dan S. Hamilton

After four years of Donald Trump, the EU and US seem more distant than ever. In this episode of Global Europe Unpacked, Will Murray speaks to Dr Dan S. Hamilton from the Wilson Center in Washington DC, about what the Joe Biden presidency means for the Transatlantic relationship.
Editor's choice
News
GEU Podcast: What's going on with the OSCE? – with Dr Walter Kemp

GEU Podcast: What's going on with the OSCE? – with Dr Walter Kemp

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was established in the 1990s as a multilateral security organisation for Europe and Eurasia. Following an organisational crisis this year, Will Murray speaks to Dr Walter Kemp about the organisation's history and approach to security, and what can be done to ensure its effectiveness going forward.
Editor's choice
News
GEU Podcast: What's happening with the Conference on the Future of Europe? – with Robert Micallef

GEU Podcast: What's happening with the Conference on the Future of Europe? – with Robert Micallef

The Conference on the Future of Europe is an initiative that intends to bring all the voices in the EU together to chart a course for the future of the bloc. In this episode of Global Europe Unpacked, Will Murray speaks to Robert Micallef about what’s happening with this initiative, when and how it will take place, and how EU citizens can make the most of it.