Ankara: The Turkish Parliament has approved Finland’s NATO membership. A new country can join NATO only if it has the support of all member states. Finland and Sweden applied to join the alliance a year ago, alarmed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 28 of the 30 NATO member states supported it, but Turkey and Hungary opposed it.
Sweden’s soft approach to Kurdish groups, among others, has fueled Turkey’s strong opposition. Turkey has been angered by a series of demonstrations in Sweden, including a protest by an anti-Islam activist who burned a Quran outside the Turkish embassy. But there was no opposition to Finland’s membership move.
Hungary’s parliament has also approved Finland’s accession. In the case of Sweden, there is still no clarity. NATO chief Jens Stollenberg welcomed Turkey’s parliamentary action in support of Finland’s membership. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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