Finland approved to join Nato
Published: 05:03 PM,Mar 31,2023 | EDITED : 10:03 PM,Mar 31,2023
Chairman of Turkish parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission Akif Cagatay Kilic addresses Turkish lawmakers before voting in favour of Finland's bid to join Nato, in the Turkish parliament (picture right) in Ankara. - AFP
ISTANBUL/BERLIN: Less than a day after Turkiye's parliament gave Finland the final approval to join Nato, top German officials pressed Turkiye to take up Sweden's stalled application to join the Western military alliance as well.
The vote by Turkish lawmakers to approve Finland's application leaves only the last formalities before Finland official joins Nato as a full member. But Turkiye and fellow Nato member Hungary continue to block Sweden's path to do the same.
German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Friday welcomed the vote on Finland but said approval for Sweden must follow.
Hebestreit said Germany is 'intensively campaigning for Sweden to receive all the ratification documents in the foreseeable future' and is looking forward to welcoming both Nordic countries to Nato.
Turkiye was the last of the 30 current Nato members to agree to Finland's admission on Thursday shortly before midnight.
The decision ends Finland's decades-long neutral status amid perceived security risks due to Russia's full-scale war of Ukraine. The Nordic country shares a 1,340-kilometre-long border with Russia.
Finland, along with neighbouring Sweden, applied for Nato membership in May 2022.
Sweden's membership is still pending Turkish ratification due to a number of sticking points, among them Ankara's concerns over what it says is a lack of cooperation in fighting terrorism.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö thanked all 30 Nato members after the Turkish vote for their 'trust and support'.
'Finland will be a strong and capable Ally, committed to the security of the Alliance. Finland is now ready to join Nato. We look forward to welcoming Sweden to join us as soon as possible,' he wrote on Twitter.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin echoed his sentiments, taking to social media to thank Nato members for their support.
'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,' she wrote on Twitter.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed Turkiye's vote. 'This will make the whole #Nato family stronger & safer,' he tweeted.
Stoltenberg urged the alliance to maintain momentum and admit Sweden 'as soon as possible' in a video message on Friday. - dpa
The vote by Turkish lawmakers to approve Finland's application leaves only the last formalities before Finland official joins Nato as a full member. But Turkiye and fellow Nato member Hungary continue to block Sweden's path to do the same.
German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Friday welcomed the vote on Finland but said approval for Sweden must follow.
Hebestreit said Germany is 'intensively campaigning for Sweden to receive all the ratification documents in the foreseeable future' and is looking forward to welcoming both Nordic countries to Nato.
Turkiye was the last of the 30 current Nato members to agree to Finland's admission on Thursday shortly before midnight.
The decision ends Finland's decades-long neutral status amid perceived security risks due to Russia's full-scale war of Ukraine. The Nordic country shares a 1,340-kilometre-long border with Russia.
Finland, along with neighbouring Sweden, applied for Nato membership in May 2022.
Sweden's membership is still pending Turkish ratification due to a number of sticking points, among them Ankara's concerns over what it says is a lack of cooperation in fighting terrorism.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö thanked all 30 Nato members after the Turkish vote for their 'trust and support'.
'Finland will be a strong and capable Ally, committed to the security of the Alliance. Finland is now ready to join Nato. We look forward to welcoming Sweden to join us as soon as possible,' he wrote on Twitter.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin echoed his sentiments, taking to social media to thank Nato members for their support.
'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,' she wrote on Twitter.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed Turkiye's vote. 'This will make the whole #Nato family stronger & safer,' he tweeted.
Stoltenberg urged the alliance to maintain momentum and admit Sweden 'as soon as possible' in a video message on Friday. - dpa