It seems as though history is speeding up.
Since the formation of NATO in 1949 and the earliest days of the Cold War, Sweden and Finland sought to remain neutral amid the power blocs of Europe. Then in February, Russia invaded Ukraine, the first major land war in Europe since 1945, convincing the Nordic nations to drop their decades-long commitment to non-alignment.
It has brought NATO to a point that would have seemed impossible during the coldest years of the Cold War. That is, nearly the entire map of Europe will be part of an anti-Russian security alliance numbering 32 countries.
But the alliance’s only Asian member may try to hold the membership total to 30 countries. Turkey opposes Sweden’s and Finland’s applications, saying they support and protect Kurdish “terrorists” who have been at war with the Turkish state for the better part of four decades.
In this episode of History As It Happens, historians Timothy Sayle and Howard Eissenstat discuss why Sweden and Finland’s move to join NATO is shaking up the geopolitics of Europe at a time when Turkey, which joined NATO way back in 1952, is drawing closer to Russia.
SEE ALSO: History As It Happens: The end of NATO
“A war that began with so much discussion about possible NATO expansion [to Ukraine] actually is going to see NATO expansion, but not where we expected. Finland and Sweden are likely to join the alliance in the coming months,” said Mr. Sayle, an expert in post-World War II international relations at the University of Toronto.
Turkey has the ability – as any single NATO member does – to hold up Finland’s and Sweden’s applications. President Recep Erdogan may use the controversy to boost his sagging popularity and re-election chances, said Mr. Eissenstat, an expert on Turkish history at St. Lawrence University.
“Certainly Turkey has beefs particularly with Sweden, and less so with Finland, over dissidents and refugees that Turkey claims are terrorists. I think that what Turkey is doing is it’s reminding its NATO allies that it has its own security concerns, that it is an important player, and that it can be a spoiler if its concerns aren’t met,” said Mr. Eissenstat, who said Turkey may try to obstruct the Nordic nations’ entrance into NATO until next year’s elections.
The roots of this multi-sided controversy can be found in the enunciation of the Truman Doctrine in 1947 and the crafting of George Kennan’s containment policy that same year. Turkey became a geopolitical linchpin in anti-Soviet policy.
As NATO has rediscovered its purpose in the face of Russian aggression, Turkey finds itself in a difficult spot of its own choosing. It has moved closer to Russia, yet wishes to remain part of NATO, some nationalist bluster notwithstanding.
Listen to the conversations with Timothy Sayle and Howard Eissenstat by downloading this episode of History As It Happens.
SEE ALSO: History As It Happens: This new Cold War
