Turkey has moved to ratify Finland’s bid to join NATO, a development described by the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee as a significant step for regional security. The official noted the hope that Sweden’s accession could follow soon after.
Earlier this week, Turkey’s parliament approved Finland’s NATO membership, removing the final hurdle to Helsinki’s long-delayed entry into the alliance. The vote saw 276 members in favor, with support coming shortly after Hungary’s parliament endorsed the move. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Finland, unlike Sweden, had fulfilled the obligations set out in last year’s memorandum, under which both applicants agreed to address Turkey’s security concerns.
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This marks a major advance for regional security and the stability of the Baltic Sea basin, according to the parliamentary official interviewed by Polish news agency PAP.
The official emphasized that Poland will urge partners to accelerate Sweden’s admission as well, arguing that bringing both Nordic states into the alliance would complete the Baltic Sea NATO dimension and strengthen collective security in the area. He reiterated that Finland and Sweden should be treated with the same priority.
In his assessment, joining the alliance for both countries would bolster regional security and enhance NATO’s responsiveness in the area.
He also suggested there is a political and psychological dimension to these changes, noting especially Finland’s border with Russia as a factor in shaping the public debate around NATO expansion.
Finland joining NATO, he argued, could temper Kremlin messaging about NATO drawing closer to Russian borders and may encourage a broader openness to further expansion, potentially including countries such as Georgia or Ukraine.
The discussion on Turkey’s stance continued as Erdoğan indicated that Sweden’s membership requires certain conditions to be met first.
Asked about Sweden, Erdogan said: there are expectations that must be fulfilled before anything moves forward.
The Turkish government continues to accuse Sweden of being too lenient toward groups it deems terrorist organizations and security threats, including militant Kurdish groups and individuals tied to the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.
Hungary is currently the only member of NATO that has not yet approved Sweden’s application. Officials in Budapest have also cited concerns about statements by some Swedish politicians regarding Hungarian democracy and the linked handling of European Union funds as a factor in the delay.
Sweden has introduced tighter anti-terror laws after constitutional changes and has signaled a desire to join NATO ahead of the Vilnius summit in July.
gah/PAP
[Source: wPolityce]