NATO has not ruled out accepting new members and it is up to countries like Sweden and Finland to decide if they want to join it, the head of the Alliance’s military committee said today.
«It is a free decision of any state that wants to join NATO to apply for membership, something they have not done so far.“, Said the Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer speaking to reporters during a visit to Seoul. “We are not forcing anyone to join NATO”he underlined.
He also added that The Alliance has not pressured any country to supply arms to Ukraine.
During a visit to the South Korean capital this week, Bauer discussed the war in Ukraine as well as military cooperation between Seoul and NATO.
His visit coincided with speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the South Korean parliament yesterday Monday, during which he asked Seoul military assistance, including armor and anti-aircraft missiles.
Bauer said he had discussed Zelensky’s request with South Korean officials, but confirmed their intention to offer non-lethal assistance to Ukraine at this time.
«If President Zelensky asks for such systems, it means he needs them“, Stressed the Dutch admiral.
However The South Korean government decides whether it intends and can send weapons to UkraineHe added that NATO had not asked Seoul to offer arms to Kyiv, nor had it offered arms to it, although Alliance member states had done so.
Bauer noted that the non-lethal assistance – helmets and medical kits, among others – that South Korea has sent to Ukraine is also significant.
He himself stated that, According to NATO estimates, Russia will focus on eastern Ukrainehaving initially attacked various fronts.
NATO and its members will continue to offer “whatever is possible“In order to ensure the survival of Ukraine, but it is not going to send its own aircraft or army to the country,” Bauer concluded.
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