Finland is to become the 31st member of Nato after Turkey’s parliament voted to approve its application this week.
Approval by Turkey’s General Assembly, controlled by a coalition led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development party, cleared what the Financial Times described as the last significant hurdle for the Nordic country to join the Western military alliance.
The BBC reports that Turkey had delayed Finland’s bid to join Nato for months, complaining that Finland was supporting ‘terrorists’. Sweden, which applied to join Nato at the same time last May, is still being blocked by Ankara over similar complaints.
According to the BBC, Finland, a country with a 1,340km border with Russia and one of the most powerful arsenals of artillery pieces in Western Europe, is ditching its neutrality and joining the alliance in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter: ‘I look forward to raising Finland’s flag at Nato HQ in the coming days. Together we are stronger and safer.’
In a statement following the Turkish vote, the Finnish government said joining the alliance would strengthen the country’s security, and improve stability and security in the region.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin wrote on Twitter: ‘As allies, we will give and receive security. We will defend each other. Finland stands with Sweden now and in the future and supports its application.’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his approval to Finland’s bid earlier this month, praising the country’s ‘authentic and concrete steps’ on Turkish security.
[Image: FinnishGovernment, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=117924760]