Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Turkey approved Finland’s accession to NATO on Thursday, clearing the final obstacle to the expansion of the alliance.
Turkey was the last NATO member to approve Finland’s accession bid after Hungary gave its approval earlier this week, according to a Reuters report on Friday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan noted earlier this month that Finland took steps to crack down on terrorists and lift its arms embargo on Turkey, which Ankara set as conditions for approving Finland’s application.
Earlier this year, Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO after the war in Ukraine broke out, with Hungary and Turkey the last alliance members to give their approval.
The Finnish government commented on Turkey’s approval, stressing that “NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security and improve stability and security in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe.”
Sweden on hold
The Turkish parliament has not approved Sweden’s application, noting that the country needs to do more to crack down on terrorists. Ankara has repeatedly called on Sweden to take action against those responsible for the failed 2016 coup and other terrorist groups.
Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, noted that he called on Hungary and Turkey to ratify Sweden’s application as soon as possible.
Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland, announced after Turkey approved Helsinki’s NATO bid that “Finland stands with Sweden now and in the future and supports its application.”
The US Department of State welcomed Turkey’s move and called on the country to approve Sweden’s application as well. “Sweden and Finland are both strong, capable partners that share NATO’s values and will strengthen the Alliance and contribute to European security,” a spokesperson noted.
Following the Turkish parliament’s vote, President Erdoğan is to approve the ratification of Finland’s NATO bid, after which it will be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Turkey.
After wrapping up the ratification process, Hungary and Turkey are to send relevant documents to the US, the NATO depositary, after which Stoltenberg will give a formal invitation to new alliance members.
The Finnish government noted that it will deliver the accession document signed by the US government as the final step in the process. When the document reaches the US Department of State, Finland will formally join the alliance.
