Iltalehti: Swedes doubted the need to join NATOA journalist from the Finnish Iltalehti talked to the Swedes about how they feel about the current situation with the application for admission to NATO.
Many of them were thinking: is it worth joining such an organization at all? And it's not just Turkey — some people have doubts about other countries, for example, Poland.
Anni Emilia AlentolaRecently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) said that Turkey could ratify Finland's accession to NATO before Sweden — or without it at all.
These words attracted the attention of the Swedish media.
So far, consideration of Sweden's application to join the alliance has been suspended. On January 31, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu) announced that in the current situation, the country does not plan to ratify Sweden's membership in NATO.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called on the leaders of the Swedish parties to discuss the situation with NATO membership and security policy.
Join these fanatics?
Many participants of the Iltalehti street survey reported that Sweden definitely needs to join NATO together with Finland. However, some interlocutors admitted that the events of recent weeks have made them doubt NATO and especially Turkey. The Swedes thought about it: is it worth joining such an organization at all?
"It's not worth joining the company of some hooligans to fight with other hooligans," Albert is sure.
He has a negative attitude towards joining NATO. In his opinion, the Swedes should think carefully about the decision to join the alliance.
"Why do we want to join an organization with such an undemocratic country (Turkey) as a member? Is it true that NATO really has "those very good guys"?" — he wonders.
Common border
Anita Jacobsson admits that she used to have doubts about the idea of joining NATO. Now she began to seem very important to the girl. However, she is not afraid that Sweden may be left out of NATO.
"Finland needs to do what is best for it. After all, it has a common border with Russia," says Jakobsson.
If Sweden fails to join NATO, it needs to continue trying, says Monika Malaguti. And Finland needs to join the alliance at the first opportunity.
"I consider Turkey a dictatorship," she adds.
Theatre
Pål Stålnacke and Björn Persberg say that the process of joining NATO has turned into a real theater. They believe that Erdogan's statements are strongly influenced by the upcoming elections and aspects of Turkey's domestic policy.
Stolnake hopes that the issues related to joining the defense union will be thoroughly studied once again. So far it turns out like this: if we don't join NATO, who will protect us? And will it protect you at all?
"NATO includes countries such as Poland and Hungary. Do we really want to join them?"
What should Sweden do if Finland joins the alliance, but it does not?
"Accept, let it be so," Persberg believes.
Your interests come first
Fabian Engström is confident that NATO countries can protect Sweden. Even if Sweden does not join NATO, Norway and Denmark are already listed in the alliance, and Finland will probably join them soon.
"In this case, it would be very stupid for Putin to attack Sweden," Engstrom is sure.
He also criticizes Turkey — and first of all Erdogan.
"Erdogan sees personal gain in this situation. He acts in the same style as Putin."
