Turkey is the latest NATO country to approve Finland’s membership. The ratification was a formality after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his approval for membership. The Turkish opposition in parliament has also expressed its support.
This makes Helsinki, apart from some technical formalities, the 31st member of the alliance. 29 NATO countries had already agreed much earlier. Hungary also crossed the bridge on Monday. Now everyone agrees with Turkey.
Not together with neighboring Sweden
Initially, Finland had hoped to join NATO together with neighboring Sweden. But both Hungary and Turkey are currently refusing to support Sweden’s accession. Stockholm itself is still hoping to join before a major NATO summit begins in Vilnius in July.
Finland, like Sweden, has long boasted that it is not affiliated with any military alliance. But the Russian invasion of Ukraine changed that. Finland shares a 1300km border with Russia. NATO membership means that Finland will receive the support of other members should Russia dare to invade the country.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
