Sweden's Defense Ministry announced it has chosen the Brazilian-built Embraer C-390 Millennium as the country's new tactical transport aircraft. “Embraer is honored by Sweden's choice. After several countries belonging to the European Union and NATO selected the C-390, this decision confirms the fact that our multi-mission aircraft represents a tremendous advance in operational capability over previous generation tactical transport aircraft,” Embraer's CEO of Defense and Security Bosco da Costa Junior said.
Uruguay's Foreign Ministry announced Friday it was recalling Ambassador Federico Perazza from Stockholm, who was handed down a 6-month suspension without pay after it was determined that he had incurred very serious administrative offenses which included the use of mission money for personal expenses, in addition to the inappropriate use of the official car and the mistreatment of Embassy officials.
Hungary's nod Monday after more than 18 months cleared the way for Sweden to become the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), thus tipping Europe's military balance in response to Russia's war in Ukraine. Sweden’s accession to NATO is now expected to be a formality, with a ceremony later this week.
Turkey will receive 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet, the United States State Department said in a press release. The US$ 23 billion operation follows on Turkey's ratification of NATO membership for Sweden.
Türkiye's Parliament Tuesday greenlighted Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization by 287 votes in favor, 55 against, and four abstentions. However, the rest of the 600 lawmakers did not attend Tuesday's session. The surprising nod came after months of objections citing the Scandinavian country's stance regarding Kurdish militants and members of a network believed to be behind a failed coup in 2016.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday added European Union membership o the list of demands he wants fulfilled in exchange for finally backing Stockholm's accession to NATO.
Sweden's Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the extradition of a supporter of the Kurdish Workers Party, (PKK) to Turkey. The decision clears the way for the government in Stockholm to meet Turkey's demand that it hand over several individuals it considers terrorists as a prerequisite for approval of Sweden's request to become a member of NATO military alliance.
After Turkey unblocked the NATO accession process for Sweden and Finland, now fears have arisen that the two Nordic states could have conceded too much to Ankara over deportations.
NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has said that Sweden and Finland's applications to join the alliance will be fast-tracked. Explaining the decision behind her country's intention to become a member, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said abandoning decades of political neutrality was a direct result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Finland Sunday confirmed it would apply for membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), thus changing the geopolitical scenario in Europe less than three months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.