Finland has, today, become the 31st member of the NATO after Turkey’s approval of Finland’s membership bid.
As any NATO expansion needs support of all its members, Ankara’s decision to ratify Finland’s membership cleared the way for one of the most important moments in NATO’s history.
In a statement following the Turkish vote, the Finnish government said joining the alliance would strengthen the country’s security, and improve stability and security in the region.
“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,” Prime Minister Sanna Marin wrote on Twitter.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his approval to Finland’s bid earlier this month, praising the country’s “authentic and concrete steps” on Turkish security.
But Turkey has dragged its heels over Sweden saying it does not take Ankara’s security concerns seriously and has not lived up to its side of a bargain, struck in Madrid last year, that laid out a number of issues Stockholm needed to address.
Hungary has followed Turkey’s lead in delaying ratification, which must be unanimous.
“An ill-considered decision,” Russia comments
In the ongoing battle in Ukraine, this is a major move on the part of NATO against Russia.
Russia’s foreign ministry earlier condemned Finland’s decision, saying it was ill-considered and based on Russophobic hysteria.
But Finnish public opinion has been radically altered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Almost overnight last spring, support for NATO membership leapt from an underwhelming one-third of Finns to almost 80%.
Finland simply believes it stands a better chance of not being attacked by Russia if it joins the alliance.
In the meantime, Sweden’s NATO membership bid still remains blocked by Turkey and Hungary.
Hungary says Sweden has had a hostile attitude to Budapest for years.
Unlike Turkey, Hungary does not have a list of demands, but says grievances need to be addressed before it can ratify Sweden’s accession to NATO.
Sweden has said its security position is better now than prior to its application to NATO. Sweden has received assurances of support from countries including the United States, Britain and Germany.
Both countries, Finland and Sweden, see NATO, with its collective defence clause, as the best way to ensure their security.
The majority of NATO members have quickly ratified their applications, arguing that Finland – which shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) border with Russia – and Sweden would strengthen the alliance in the Baltic.
(Source: Reuters)
(Image: Twitter)
