Justice Jackson Slams Supreme Court's Growing Use of Shadow Docket 
U.S. Senate Blocks Resolutions to Halt $450 Million Weapons Sale to Israel 
U.S.-Iran War Talks Resume Amid Economic Pressure and Ceasefire Uncertainty 
Trump Administration Moves to Deport Iranian Academic Yousof Azizi Over Alleged Visa Fraud 
U.S. Signals Opposition to Bachelet's UN Secretary-General Bid 
House Republicans Near Deal on FISA Extension with Limited Reforms 
Pentagon Taps Auto Giants to Supercharge U.S. Weapons Production 
U.S. Weapons Delays to Europe Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict 
Brazil's Former Intelligence Chief Alexandre Ramagem Released from U.S. Immigration Custody 
Chile's Kast Unveils 40-Point Economic Reform Package to Boost Growth 
IMF and World Bank Resume Ties with Venezuela, Opening Door to Billions in Funding 
Myanmar Grants Amnesty to Over 4,000 Prisoners Under New President Min Aung Hlaing 
Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine, Killing Three Including a Child 
Trump Administration Eyes Erica Schwartz as Next CDC Director Amid Leadership Overhaul 
Trump Pushes for Lebanon-Israel Dialogue Amid Renewed Hezbollah Conflict 
China Navigates Diplomatic Tightrope Between Iran Peace Efforts and Trump Summit 
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Attempting to Block Hawaii's Climate Case Against Oil Giants 
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara is positive about Finland’s bid to join the NATO alliance. However, the same may not be said for Sweden, with Erdogan citing the recent protests in Stockholm.
In remarks to the AK Party deputies in the Turkish parliament on Wednesday, Erdogan said Ankara’s stance on Finland’s bid to join NATO was positive, but not Sweden’s. Erdogan added that Sweden should not make any further efforts to win Turkey’s support, citing the recent protests that took place in Stockholm near the Turkish embassy. During the protests, a copy of the Koran was burned by a far-right Danish politician, sparking outrage from Turkey.
“Our position on Finland is positive, but it is not positive on Sweden,” said Erdogan. “Sweden should not bother to try at this point. We will not say ‘yes’ to their NATO application as long as they allow burning of the Koran.”
Sweden and Finland filed applications to join NATO last year as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the two Nordic countries faced objections from Turkey, which accuses Sweden of harboring people it deems as terrorists. Ankara wants Finland and Sweden to take a stronger stance against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party which the Turkish government and the European Union considers to be terrorists.
Erdogan previously signaled over the weekend that Ankara would consider Finland’s application to join NATO. However, on Monday, Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto said Finland would stick with its joint application with Sweden. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO countries that have yet to ratify the two Nordic nations’ applications.
On the same day, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the importance of the alliance working with partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Stoltenberg said Europe cannot ignore what happens in East Asia as global security is interconnected.
“Working with partners around the world, especially in the Indo-Pacific is part of the answer to a more dangerous and unpredictable world,” said Stoltenberg during an event hosted by Keio University in Japan, citing that the war in Ukraine highlights how global security is interconnected.
“It demonstrates that what happens in Europe has a consequence in East Asia and what happens in East Asia matters to Europe,” said the NATO chief.
