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Finland has cleared the last major hurdle to try to join NATO after the Turkish parliament approved the joining of the Nordic countries to the Western Military Alliance.
The General Assembly, which is dominated by a coalition led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, voted just before midnight on Thursday to ratify the move, with Turkey supporting Finland’s membership of the 30 NATO. Neighboring Sweden is still waiting for Turkey and Hungary to approve their bids for NATO.
NATO’s expansion comes at a time when relations between Russia and the West have reached their lowest setback in decades in the wake of President Vladimir Putin’s all-out war in Ukraine.
Finland shares a 1,340km border with Russia, giving the Western Alliance a more significant foothold in the region, and reportedly belongs to a club in Helsinki that counts the major military powers of the United States and Europe as members. Provides additional safety.
Some formalities still need to be completed for Finland to become NATO’s 31st member, but officials in Helsinki expect them to be completed early next month.
“Finland is now ready to join NATO and we look forward to welcoming Sweden as soon as possible,” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin said: “As allies, we give and receive security. We protect each other. Finland stands with Sweden now and in the future and supports its application.”
Finland has already ratified Sweden’s NATO tender as part of its own application process.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, welcome to twitter Turkey voted in favor of Finland’s participation. “This will make the entire Nato family stronger and safer,” he wrote.
Sweden’s NATO membership is much more uncertain. Erdogan, in the midst of a thorny presidential campaign, is under pressure from NATO allies to approve Sweden’s membership. Many Western officials believe he will delay his decision until the alliance’s summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius in July.
Ankara has lobbied Sweden to hand over dozens of suspected terrorists in return for assistance. Stockholm has already hinted at changes to its anti-terrorism law that will come into force at the beginning of June. A Nordic official said the concession “provides Erdogan an opportunity to claim victory if he so desires.”
Hungary, which approved Finland’s proposal for membership last week, has so far refused to support Sweden’s attempt to join NATO.
Washington and European capitals have wanted Finland and Sweden to join NATO together, but are now pressuring Ankara and Budapest to back Stockholm’s move amid growing concerns over regional security. ing. Tensions rose as Russia arrested a foreign journalist for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
At a press conference in London on Wednesday, Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonsson said he was “glad to have Finland join NATO” and said Stockholm’s relationship with NATO was stronger than ever. emphasized. That would make defense plans with Finland and other Nordic countries difficult.
Mr Johnson said he respected the sovereignty decisions of Turkey and Hungary, adding there was no “sign” that the two countries were acting in concert.
Speaking at the same event organized by the UK Ministry of Defense, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said he was optimistic that Turkey would approve Sweden’s membership in time for the NATO summit in July, two months after Turkey’s general election. said it was a target. process”.
“In my discussion . increase [and] We will fight against terrorism,” he said.
“Whether this week, this month or next year, I think Sweden will become a NATO member,” Wallace added.
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