Before Turkey’s elections on May 14, the decision regarding NATO membership must be made by the Turkish parliament, with hopes from Erdogan for a positive outcome. Finnish president Sauli Niinistö expressed the significance of Finland’s NATO membership while acknowledging that it cannot be complete without Sweden’s membership. Hungary’s approval is also necessary for Finland to become a member, with the leading Hungarian party, Fidesz, recently announcing support for Finland’s application, though postponing the consideration of Sweden’s application. During a press conference, Erdogan pushed for Sweden’s membership while accusing them of tolerating terrorism, and demanding over 100 terrorists to be extradited to Turkey. The next steps in the process depend on Sweden’s actions, according to Erdogan.
The Turkish parliament must hammer out the decision, which Erdogan hopes can happen before Turkey goes to the polls on May 14.
– It is very important for the whole of Finland, said Sauli Niinistö.
But he pointed out at the same time.
– Finland’s NATO membership is not complete without Sweden.
For Finland to become a member, Hungary must also approve the application. The leading party in Hungary, Fidesz, told Reuters on Thursday that in a parliamentary vote on March 27 it will support Finland’s NATO application, but that the consideration of Sweden’s application is postponed.
Erdogan went hard for Sweden during the press conference. Among other things, he accused Sweden of having “opened its arms to terrorism”, and repeated his demand that over 100 terrorists must be extradited to Turkey.
– How the process will continue depends on the concrete steps from Sweden, Erdogan said.