UK agrees mutual security deals with Finland and Sweden

[Huba]

That's what I think too. Internally he'll get as much as possible from this situation before giving in to international pressure. Gonna take a while, but it shouldn't matter. The Finnish FM from the thread above mentioned that if the access won't be approved till the summer, there will be some serious questions asked about viability of NATO's Open Door Policy. At the moment though, sitting it out seems to be the chosen strategy. 

[Josh]

The Receptionist might give in after the election. Or he may not be around at that point. I don’t expect major moves on this until after.

[glenn239]

3 hours ago, BansheeOne said:

It has to irk Erdogan that for practical purposes, his denial makes little difference as in the current situation, NATO partners would come to the aid of Finland and Sweden anyway, 

That was my take on the situation all along, that the fact Sweden and Finland are in the EU meant NATO umbrellas for both by default.  

Edited January 24, 2023 by glenn239

[Sardaukar]

No-one is very interested about EU as defence mechanism. There is no need for that when there is NATO, though EU gives political support for some effect.

"Sultan" is posturing for domestic consumption, since Turkey has elections in May. So after that, I doubt there are many complications.

What is coming next is interesting decision for ABM/high-altitude SAM system from Israel, either David's Sling or Barak MX. Decision should come this spring between those two. Other contenders have already been dropped out. 

[Sardaukar]

Worth putting in here too:

https://thehill.com/policy/international/3841427-senators-say-no-f-16-upgrades-for-turkey-if-it-blocks-finland-sweden-from-joining-nato/

Basically, USA and UK are very firmly behind us and NATO membership should be just formality.

But if "sultan" wants to make things difficult for himself....

[Ssnake]

Only until election day ... - probably.

[Mistral]

5 hours ago, Ssnake said:

Only until election day ... - probably.

Sultan is not loosing the “election”. Opposition candidates are getting jail sentences left and right.

[Ssnake]

Sure, but he has to maintain the illusion of staring down the rest of NATO until the charade is over.

[WRW]

So given the state ofk military, the Finns and Swedes will come to their aid.

[Sardaukar]

10 hours ago, WRW said:

So given the state ofk military, the Finns and Swedes will come to their aid.

Well, Sweden and Finland make good partners. This has very good points.

 

[Sardaukar]

FDF getting extra funds to compensate equipment and other aid given to Ukraine.

https://www.defmin.fi/en/topical/press_releases_and_news/defence_forces_receives_additional_funding_to_replace_materiel_provided_to_support_ukraine.13387.news#f6a582c0

So far, Finnish material aid has been 590 mil €.

[Yama]

Pro-Kurdish, anti-Turkish demonstration in my town: 

https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/74d9445d-6c3f-4fc0-aab7-235d08068520

"Erdogan is the terrorist, not Öcalan!"

They even hanged an Erdogan puppet. It was pretty marginal demonstration though, seems to have been mostly handful of local crazies.

IL's political cartoonist Ville Ranta has done his best to piss of Erdogan over the years. I'm surprised they haven't demanded to hand him over yet....

"Maybe you could burn a Bible? Would that improve your mood? -Or Pippi Longstockings?"

 

Some of them are bit tasteless perhaps, but hey, no censure!

https://imgur.com/a/RszibyV

 

 

[Sardaukar]

It's kind of strange that criticizing Erdogan is a crime. Or tearing Turkish bills (Ataturk pic).

But then, you do crime if you step on currency with king's portrait in Thailand...

[DB]

You can add defacing the currency being a crime to the list of ebil committed by the UK, too.

[Sardaukar]

4 hours ago, DB said:

You can add defacing the currency being a crime to the list of ebil committed by the UK, too.

I am kind of horrified with prospect seeing King Charles III in future pound bills...

That guy is just not photogenic.

"Picture of Prince Charles and his polo horse (polo horse on right in picture)"...  

I'm also amused about locals interacting with Paras and RM if they'd come to visit more permanently. 

 

 

 

[DB]

RM exercises routinely in Norway, I think. Aren't you lot all the same? :;

[Sardaukar]

Seems that FDF is putting the supplementary defence budget into good use:

NLAWs: 

https://www.defmin.fi/en/topical/press_releases_and_news/defence_forces_anti-tank_capabilities_to_be_complemented.13421.news#f6a582c0

Bonus Mk II artillery rounds:

 https://www.defmin.fi/en/topical/press_releases_and_news/defence_forces_to_procure_155mm_special_munitions.13428.news#f6a582c0

Edited February 24, 2023 by Sardaukar

[DB]

Similarly, the UK appears to be issuing new contracts beyond restocking NLAW.

There's a planned interim 155 SPG contract and a significant order for Jackals, although it's not clear where those are going, and hopefully Ajax is unfucked enough to get moving again.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Yes, noticed the article about Jackals the other day. If I was a guessing man, Id say they would restock with new ones, and drop the old ones on Ukraine.

[wendist]

https://twitter.com/Kluddniklas/status/1629078400374562820?s=20

Someone is feeling just a teeny weeny bit abandoned right now.😅

[Sardaukar]

 

[bd1]

btw, i kind of think that Niinistö seems to be one of the last old type of politicians left in Europe, non-populist and sorta statesman-ish who has a lot of popular support

[JWB]

Putin's NATO Warning Was 'Game Changer' for Finland–President (msn.com)

[Yama]

On 3/5/2023 at 11:17 AM, bd1 said:

btw, i kind of think that Niinistö seems to be one of the last old type of politicians left in Europe, non-populist and sorta statesman-ish who has a lot of popular support

Finland doesn't have monarchy, so president-institution is the closest equivalent: voters want president to be monarch-like elder statesman figure whose words are taken seriously.

[Sardaukar]

We seem to be buying lot of...well..stuff.