Finland and Sweden abandoned decades of military nonalignment in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but Turkey and Hungary have refused to ratify Sweden's bid to join the alliance.
STOCKHOLM: While Finland on Tuesday (Apr 4) became a full NATO member, Sweden's membership bid remains blocked, an "embarrassing" delay if short-lived but which could make Sweden more vulnerable and creat
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The defence cooperation agreements, modelled on a deal struck last year with NATO member Norway, grant effective immunity to US troops active in the country, enable them to pre-position weaponry at forward bases, and are aimed at setting the stage for an opening of another front in the war with Russia.
The Islamic State’s recent global terror campaign including the October 31 downing of a Russian passenger jet that killed 224 and the November 13 shooting attacks in Paris that killed 130 restaurant patrons and concert-goers has increased the urgency for the U.S. to lead a global alliance to defeat the Islamic State and its ideology.