Turkey appears close to green-light Finland’s NATO bid in a move that could come ahead of Sweden’s status and outside the shadow of the upcoming May elections. Turkish officials are signaling that the cabinet will probably approve Finland’s accession before the current parliamentary session ends in mid-April, setting the stage for a rapid finalization of the process. The potential timing underscores Ankara’s emphasis on moving in tandem with Finland while allowing Sweden to proceed on its own track if needed. (Reuters)
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö traveled to Ankara for a two-day visit on March 16-17, during which he formally submitted Finland’s bid to join the North Atlantic Alliance. The Turkish side has indicated that discussions about the Finnish application would be a focal point of the talks, reflecting a willingness to review the matter within the framework of bilateral ties and regional security considerations. (Reuters)
Niinistö’s visit was also positioned within a broader humanitarian and diplomatic context. According to Yle, the president planned to visit the earthquake-stricken region in southeast Turkey at the start of his trip, highlighting the ongoing cooperation between Helsinki and Ankara in areas ranging from disaster response to defense cooperation. In Istanbul on March 17, Niinistö was scheduled to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto accompanying the president to reinforce the high-level dialogue on security issues and regional stability. (Reuters)
On the political side, Sweden’s stance was outlined by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who suggested that the chances of Finland and Sweden joining the alliance in a staggered fashion were increasing. He expressed openness to the possibility that Sweden would accept a Finnish accession without requiring Sweden’s own simultaneous entry, signaling flexibility in the alliance’s enlargement timeline as both nations pursue their security interests. (Reuters)