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Nordic Countries Combat Growing Russian Tensions By Combining Air Forces

March 27, 2023 by Kira Davis Leave a Comment

In a move that is sure to cause more tensions with Russia, the Nordic bloc of countries has struck a deal to operate their fighter jets as a single fleet.

Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland began making plans to integrate their fighter jet divisions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Danish air force commander Major General Jan Dam told Reuters the combined fleet of approximately 250 jets now represents the capacity of fleets that might be maintained in any major European country.

The move to integrate the air forces was triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year, commander of the Danish air force, Major General Jan Dam, told Reuters.
“Our combined fleet can be compared to a large European country,” Dam said.
Norway has 57 F-16 fighter jets and 37 F-35 fighter jets with 15 more of the latter on order. Finland has 62 F/A-18 Hornet jets and 64 F-35s on order, while Denmark has 58 F-16s and 27 F-35s on order. Sweden has more than 90 Gripens jets.

Dam also told Bloomberg that the goal is to help the air forces work as one unit, based on “already known NATO methodology.”

“The ultimate goal is to be able to operate seamlessly together as one force by developing a Nordic concept for joint air operations based on already known NATO methodology.”

Sweden and Finland have applied to join NATO following Russian aggression towards Ukraine. However, applications have been slowed as Turkey and Hungary delay their decisions for ratification. On Monday, Hungary finally approved Finland’s bid, moving them one step closer to official NATO status.

Hungary’s parliament on Monday approved Finland’s bid to join NATO, putting an end to months of delays and bringing the Nordic country one step closer to becoming a full member of the Western military alliance.
The measure, passed with 182 votes for and six against, came after Hungary’s government had for months frustrated allies in NATO and the European Union by repeatedly postponing the vote after nearly all other alliance members ratified Finland’s bid.

While the Nordic countries work to complete their NATO entry, Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously indicated he sees NATO’s expansion as a direct threat to Russia. Putin has used NATO expansion as a justification for his invasion of Ukraine. Conversely, Western nations say Putin’s recent aggression is the cause of NATO expansion.

Hungary’s move to accept Finland’s application is a big step forward from the nation’s previous opposition to both Sweden and Finland. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is pro-expansion for NATO, but has accused Swedish and Finnish politicians of telling “blatant lies” about Hungary’s political structure and democracy.

The Nordic air force agreement will be another point of worry for Russia. The Nordic nations are combining top-tier fighter jets. Norway, Denmark and Finland will provide F-35 jets, the most advanced and powerful in Western fighter jet technology. Norway currently flies F-35 jets, but Denmark and Finland have yet to put any into operation. They have committed to doing so over the next few years.

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Erdogan Signals Turkey to Accept Finnish Application to NATO. Sweden Could Swiftly Follow

March 17, 2023 by Becca Lower Leave a Comment

In mid-May 2022, Finland and Sweden made news when they applied for membership in NATO, much to the chagrin of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Now, according to a report Friday, it appears that process is moving toward fruition before the end of the summer.

BREAKING: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would move forward with ratifying Finland’s NATO application. https://t.co/27n7ZBqDsY
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 17, 2023

Via the AP:

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that his government would move forward with ratifying Finland’s NATO application, paving the way for the country to join the military bloc ahead of Sweden.
The breakthrough came as Finnish President Sauli Niinisto was in Ankara to meet with Erdogan. Both Finland and Sweden applied to become NATO members 10 months ago in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, abandoning decades of nonalignmen t.
NATO requires the unanimous approval of its 30 existing members to expand, and Turkey and Hungary are the only countries that have not yet ratified the Nordic nations’ bids. The Turkish government accused both Sweden and Finland of being too soft on groups that it deems to be terror organizations, but expressed more reservations about Sweden.
“When it comes to fulfilling its pledges in the trilateral memorandum of understanding, we have seen that Finland has taken authentic and concrete steps,” Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara following his meeting with Niinisto.
“This sensitivity for our country’s security and, based on the progress that has been made in the protocol for Finland’s accession to NATO, we have decided to initiate the ratification process in our parliament,“ the president added.

Ergogan also made remarks about Sweden’s prospects:

Commenting on Turkey’s willingness to consider ratifying Sweden’s accession to NATO, Erdogan said it would “depend on the solid steps Sweden will take.”
Explaining the difference between the Nordic countries from Ankara’s viewpoint, Erdogan claimed that Sweden had “embraced terrorism,” and cited demonstrations by supporters of Kurdish militants on the streets of Stockholm. “Such demonstrations do not take place in Finland,” he said. “For that reason we had to consider (Finland) separately from Sweden.”

Back in May 2022, Pres. Erdogan was dancing a much different jig, as my colleague Bob Hoge wrote:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also opposed to the applications, saying on Monday that Sweden was a “hatchery” for terrorism, and even had terrorists in its parliament. “Neither of these countries have a clear, open attitude towards terrorist organizations,” Erdogan said. “How can we trust them?”

By late June, though, Erdogan withdrew his veto for both nations to join. Streiff wrote:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has removed his objections to the applications for NATO membership submitted by Sweden and Finland, guaranteeing those two previously unaligned nations will join the West’s bulwark alliance against Russian aggression.
…
As talks developed, it became apparent that Erdogan wanted three things. First, he wanted an arms embargo Sweden and Finland had imposed on Turkey over its ongoing war with various Kurdish groups lifted. He wanted Sweden to cut all ties with the Kurdish PKK faction. Finally, he wanted Sweden and Finland to extradite Kurdish militants as well as members of the Gülen Movement, whom Erdogan blames for a 2016 coup attempt.

As far as Hungary goes, the AP reported:

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and lawmakers have promised to ratify the two country’s NATO membership applications. But the country’s parliament has repeatedly postponed a ratification vote.
The parliamentary head of Orban’s Fidesz party said Friday that a vote on Finnish accession would be held on March 27.

That said, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto sounded upbeat about the timeline for entry to NATO. AP reported Niinisto anticipates his country will “meet the alliance of 32 members” in July—at Vilnius, Lithuania, the site of the next NATO summit.