November 05, 2024 10:57 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Pakistan's Lahore has become world's most polluted city with an AQI of 1900 on Sunday | Indian Army 'successfully completes' patrolling to a key point in Ladakh's Depsang region | US presidential election: Donald Trump ahead of Kamala Harris in swing states, poll survey predicts | 'I strongly condemn Hindu temple attack, intimidation of our diplomats': PM Modi amid Canada row | 'I strongly condemn Hindu temple attack, intimidation of our diplomats': PM Modi amid Canada row
Turkish vote clears Finland's path to NATO membership
Finland
Representative image of Finland capital Helsinki

Turkish vote clears Finland's path to NATO membership

| @indiablooms | 31 Mar 2023, 11:19 pm

The Turkish parliament Thursday gave its unanimous approval of Finland's entry into NATO, thereby enabling Helsinki to become a member of the military alliance. However, this decision leaves Sweden excluded from joining.

In a matter of days, Finland may officially become a member of NATO.

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö tweeted, “All 30 NATO members have now ratified Finland’s membership." "Finland will be a strong and capable Ally, committed to the security of the Alliance,” he said.

"We look forward to welcoming Sweden to join us as soon as possible," the tweet further read.

After being delayed for several months, the Turkish vote on the matter took place in Ankara just minutes before midnight.

Finland and Sweden initially applied for membership last May, prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And while the two countries were formally invited to join the alliance last summer, both Turkey and Hungary have been stalling on ratifying their memberships.

Despite striking a deal with Helsinki and Stockholm that led to policy changes, Ankara expressed concerns about the support of Kurdish groups and restrictions on arms exports by both countries.

However, while Finland was given the green light for membership, Ankara chose to delay Sweden's approval.

Hungary has ratified Finland's membership, but a vote on Sweden is yet to be scheduled.

Following the ratification of its membership by the NATO member states, Finland will receive a formal invitation from the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, after which it will provide the U.S. with its instrument of accession.

Upon receiving this, the U.S. will issue a statement acknowledging that Finland is now a member of the North Atlantic Treaty.

“This,” Stoltenberg tweeted, “will make the whole NATO family stronger & safer.”

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Related Images
Xi Jinping, Putin in Russia 22 Mar 2023, 02:56 pm
Related Videos