It was already becoming apparent, now it’s probably corrected: Finland could soon receive Turkey’s approval for its intended NATO membership ahead of its next Nordic partner, Sweden. According to Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Ankara has taken the decision to admit the country to the military alliance. Niinistö announced on Wednesday in Helsinki that he had accepted an invitation to go to Turkey on Friday to be present at the announcement of the decision.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has so far opposed Sweden and Finland’s desire to join NATO. However, there have recently been increasing signs that Turkey is now in agreement with Finland’s accession. This was also indicated by a representative of the Turkish president’s staff to the Finnish news agency STT. Accordingly, Finland’s admission could be ratified before Turkey’s May 14 elections.
When asked by reporters in Ankara on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey “would keep the promise it made” and could agree to Finland’s accession ahead of Sweden. However, it was initially unclear if, when and how Turkey would give its consent. “We will meet the president (Niinistö) on Friday … and then we will do whatever is necessary,” Erdogan said.
Approval for Sweden only after the elections?
Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership about ten months ago. 28 of the current 30 members have ratified their membership protocols, only Hungary and Turkey have not yet. Ankara is blocking membership, among other things, referring to an insufficient fight against “terrorist organizations” among NATO candidates.
These objections are mainly directed at Sweden. That is why there has been discussion for some time whether the country will be included after Finland. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday during a visit to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin that Turkey appears to be preparing to ratify Finland’s membership before Sweden.
Kristersson does not expect Turkey to approve his country’s membership of NATO until after Turkey’s presidential elections in May. “We are also prepared for this situation,” he emphasized. But it’s no secret that Sweden would prefer to join Finland. “We believe that we are ready for ratification. But we respect that only Turkey can make Turkish decisions,” said the prime minister. (afp/reu/dpa/apa)