Finland's leader to visit Turkey as Erdogan greenlights NATO bid
But the Turkish president has remained resolute in denying Sweden's entry to the alliance, dimming the hopes for Sweden and Finland’s joint accession.
ANKARA — As Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is set to travel to Istanbul this week, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled Wednesday that Turkey would soon ratify Finland’s NATO membership.
Asked whether the Turkish parliament can begin Finland’s ratification process next week, “God willing,” said Erdogan. “We will fulfill our duty.”
Niinisto, who will travel to Turkey on Thursday, is set to meet with Erdogan in Istanbul on Friday.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both Nordic countries abandoned their historical military non-alignment policies, announcing their bids to join the transatlantic alliance, which requires a consensus of all 30 members. Ankara set out a series of demands from both Stockholm and Helsinki in return for its support. Under a NATO-brokered deal, the Nordic countries pledged to address Turkey’s security concerns and became “official invitees” to the alliance.
