Turkey’s parliament ratifies Finland’s Nato accession as Sweden kept waiting
- The 2 Nordic countries asked to join the defence alliance amid the Ukraine war, but Sweden’s bid has is being held up by Turkey and Hungary
- Finland’s membership would represent the first enlargement since North Macedonia joined Nato in 2020
Turkey’s parliament approved a bill on Thursday to allow Finland to join Nato, clearing the way for Helsinki to join the Western defence alliance as war rages in Ukraine.
The Turkish parliament was the last among the 30 members of the alliance to ratify Finland’s membership after Hungary’s legislature approved a similar bill earlier this week.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier in March that Finland had secured Turkey’s blessing after taking concrete steps to keep promises to crack down on groups seen by Ankara as terrorists, and to free up defence exports.
Finland and Sweden asked to join the transatlantic military alliance last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But the process has been held up by Turkey and Hungary. The parliaments of all Nato members must ratify newcomers.
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Possible Nato membership for Finland and Sweden sparks concern in Russia
Turkey is still delaying approving the Nato membership bid of Sweden, which Ankara says has not gone far enough in cracking down on people Turkey considers terrorists. The three countries signed a pact on the issue last year.
The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission had unanimously approved the Finland bill last week. The Turkish legislative process was happening as it prepares for parliamentary and presidential elections on May 14.
