Paphos Life

I can understand why Finland and Sweden want to join NATO, but does it run the risk of escalating the war? Has Putin made a majoy booboo or is the rest of the World beginning to conclude that his army isn't all its cracked up to be?

Finland formally confirms Nato membership bid

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61441664

IMHO, Putin is clutching at straws and in a perilous state. The only worry is he’s got access to the “button”

Hudswell,
Thanks for contributing a most interesting and thought provoking summary of this situation. We can only hope that wiser thoughts will prevail and the nuclear option won't happen.
Is a country that once annihilated its Royal family capable of doing the same to Putin and his cohorts?

Dee

Working for a Finnish company at the moment, they are all very keen to join NATO, despite having close links to Russia as a country, and it harming the Finnish economy, they have done the right things.

I have a Finnish subcontractor and they have had a serious issue with their entire IT system which has disabled the entire company. They have managed to link the source back to Russia!

Speaking of which, I am glad I stopped using Kaspersky some time ago.

NATO has always depended on the size and power of the Turkish Military as a buffer against Russian aggression on the South East European flank.

bromerzz wrote: ↑Fri May 20, 2022 10:20 am NATO has always depended on the size and power of the Turkish Military as a buffer against Russian aggression on the South East European flank.

The problem is, It seems Erdogan is Putins Bestest friend now

Turkey has refused to follow many Western countries in imposing sanctions on Russia for the invasion. It has also welcomed sanctioned oligarchs and their luxury yachts to the country. Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have developed close relations over the past five years, cooperating on regional issues such as Syria. Russia is a major supplier of energy and tourists to Turkey’s fragile economy and is an important export market.


https://www.arabnews.com/node/2085701/middle-east

The USA doesn't want to upset Turkey really, as they have a large air force base there.

Dee

Kili01 wrote: ↑Fri May 20, 2022 6:47 pm The USA doesn't want to upset Turkey really, as they have a large air force base there.

Dee

Not the case, the americans have been scaling back from Incirlik air base for some years now, and it isn't as important to them as before,
The Americans have just signed major defence treaties with Greece, they are enlarging their bases in Crete and their main base is Alexandropolis in northern Greece.

Yes but the Incirlik base does have a very nice swimming pool. Spent a few hours off duty in it!

I'm sure that the US find their base in Turkey very useful for strategic reasons.
Dee