Turkey approved Finland’s bid to join NATO. A decree issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared in the State Gazette and the Official Gazette, confirming the move.
The decree states that the ratification of the Protocol on the accession of the Republic of Finland to the North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Brussels on 5 July 2022, was deemed appropriate.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had signaled on the eve of the decision that Finland would likely become a full member within days.
On 30 March, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey approved Helsinki’s application to join NATO. Earlier, the Hungarian Parliament backed Finland’s membership.
Finland has now earned the consent of all current NATO members. On the Finnish government website, it is noted that the invitation by the Alliance’s Secretary General is required for formal entry, and the signed document is then delivered to the United States government for final steps.
Sweden’s status and the broader context
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström described the development as a milestone for Finland. He stated that the move strengthens security for both Finland and Sweden. Yet, Sweden’s membership is not considered complete until Stockholm also becomes a member of the alliance.
The Swedish government continues to push for accession, while it remains possible for Finland to proceed with NATO membership even if Sweden’s process remains unresolved for the moment.
In spring 2022, Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join NATO. With Finland’s path now advancing, all alliance members except Türkiye and Hungary had indicated their readiness to welcome new members. The Turkish authorities had previously linked regional concerns to issues involving certain Kurdish groups and the FETO network, urging their members to be removed from Scandinavian states and handed over for Turkish authorities to address.
FETO and the coup attempt in Turkey
In mid-2016, a faction within the Turkish military attempted a failed coup, seizing control of key centers in Ankara and Istanbul before government forces regained control. The Turkish government attributed the plot to the Hizmet movement led by Fethullah Gülen, though Gülen denied involvement. The Turkish side also raised the possibility of extradition to the United States; Gülen indicated willingness to return if the U.S. decision favored extradition. The extradition request was not granted, and tensions persisted as some FETO-affiliated figures sought safety abroad, including in Sweden and Finland.
Following the failed coup, Turkey launched extensive purges across the judiciary, armed forces, police, and education. Thousands of judges, police personnel, and officials faced dismissal or removal, and a broad restructuring began across state institutions.
In March of the referenced year, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö visited Ankara to discuss the accession process with President Erdogan. Reports suggested a constructive exchange, with Erdogan indicating that steps had been taken to advance Helsinki’s bid. Niinistö later commented that formal confirmation of accession could occur before the next U.S. presidential election, noting that geopolitical considerations often intersect with leadership changes in Washington. The broader regional dynamics continued to influence the accession timeline.
Relations between Turkey and Sweden were strained after a controversial protest in Stockholm, where a Quran was burned in front of the Turkish embassy. The episode added friction to ongoing discussions about Nordic membership in NATO.