As the war in Ukraine has entered its fourth month, NATO leaders are meeting in Madrid for their annual conference from 28 to 30 June to discuss the most important security issues facing the military alliance, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s growing influence. NATO has also announced its decision to fast-track previously neutral Sweden and Finland’s membership applications at this ‘historic’ summit.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has described as "historic" this year’s summit from June 28 to 30 in Madrid, which assembles the leaders of NATO’s 30 member countries and key partners as the alliance prepares the biggest defence operation seen since the Cold War. This includes significantly increasing the number of troops that it can deploy at a moment’s notice, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and formally offering fast-track membership to previously neutral Finland and Sweden, after addressing concerns by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Ankara had initially refused to support the two Nordic countries' bids on the grounds that they were allegedly harbouring Kurdish armed groups that have been engaged in guerilla warfare against Turkey since 1984, and their bans on selling some arms to Turkey. Ankara says it will seek to extradite 33 "terror" suspects from Sweden and Finland in exchange for its support.
