[Rushy]

Currently, Finland wants to join NATO; Sweden is still thinking about it. However, to join NATO all members must approve of your application. Guess who doesn't approve?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-13/turkey-doesn-t-favor-sweden-finland-joining-nato-erdogan-says

Unsurprisingly, it's Turkey. Why don't they approve?

Erdogan cites concerns over ‘terrorists’ in Sweden and Finland

It's because of all those terrorists in Sweden and Finland! Obviously. How could I not have known that? Those damned Swedes and Finns going around... terrorizing us with... something...

[crutonius]

Sweden is well known for its terrorists.  There was even a documentary made about it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/

[rooster]

Sweden is well known for its terrorists.  There was even a documentary made about it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/

German, not Swedish.

[AATW]

I thought that documentary was about Christmas.

[Rushy]

I try to have a semi-serious discussion about NATO and you're all in here talking about Die Hard. 

[crutonius]

I can't help it.  I'm mourning Bruce Willis's decline in health.

Fine.  Serious stuff.  I think the US committed to a defense pact with Sweden and Finland to bridge the gap between application and approval.  Since the US is like 80% of NATO it's effectively like being in NATO if that news was correct.

But this is the peril in a treaty organization getting too big.  Eventually we get shitheads.  It might be time to create NATO 2.0 and not include countries like Hungary and Turkey.  Maybe a EU 2.0 while they're at it to kick those two countries out also.

[xasop]

It might be time to create NATO 2.0 and not include countries like Hungary and Turkey.  Maybe a EU 2.0 while they're at it to kick those two countries out also.

Yes of course, Turkey is a notoriously troublesome EU member.

[Rushy]

Fine.  Serious stuff.  I think the US committed to a defense pact with Sweden and Finland to bridge the gap between application and approval.  Since the US is like 80% of NATO it's effectively like being in NATO if that news was correct.

The UK did the same thing. Additionally, Sweden and Finland have mutual defense agreements with the EU but that is on shakier ground than the UK or US assurances.

But this is the peril in a treaty organization getting too big.  Eventually we get shitheads.  It might be time to create NATO 2.0 and not include countries like Hungary and Turkey.  Maybe a EU 2.0 while they're at it to kick those two countries out also.

They weren't shitheads when originally invited into NATO. We've unfortunately let their governments deteriorate into what they are today.

[Lord Dave]

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/23/1226390054/sweden-nato-turkey-parliament

Sweden is allowed to join.

[Rushy]

I can't believe they let Sweden join, despite all of those Swedish terrorists wreaking havoc across Europe!