NATO statement from Finland: Turkey has not yet set a date

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto made a new statement on the country’s NATO membership.

Haavisto said Hungary will give final approval to Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership in early February 2023, while Turkey has yet to set a date for approval.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom also made a statement today: “Yesterday we had a very good meeting as Sweden, Finland and Turkey. I think there will be progress after this meeting. We are making progress,” he said. Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said: “We are aware of the steps taken by both countries to join NATO. But Turkey needs more to be convinced,” he said.

So far, only Hungary and Turkey have not approved the membership process for Finland and Sweden, which need the approval of all NATO countries to complete the membership process.

Ankara announced that both countries should do more in the fight against terrorism and gave the green light to the accession process of the two countries later than other NATO member countries. However, at the NATO Leaders’ Summit in June, the parties came to the table and the process began.