Stoltenberg: Finland to join Nato in coming days
Finland will formally join Nato in the coming days, the Alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on March 31.
Finland and Sweden applied on May 18 2022 to join Nato, following Russia’s February 24 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Türkiye had delayed Finland’s bid to join the West’s defensive alliance for months – complaining the Nordic nation was supporting “terrorists”, the BBC reported.
Sweden is still being blocked by Ankara over similar complaints.
Stoltenberg welcomed the vote by the Turkish Grand National Assembly to ratify Finland’s membership in Nato.
All 30 Nato Allies had now ratified the accession protocol, he said.
Finland’s membership would make Finland safer and Nato stronger, Stoltenberg said.
“Finland has highly capable forces. Advanced capabilities. And strong democratic institutions. So Finland will bring a lot to our Alliance,” he said.
Since the Allies had decided last year to invite Finland and Sweden to join Nato, “we have seen the fastest ratification process in Nato’s modern history,” Stoltenberg said.
“All Allies agree that a rapid conclusion of the ratification process for Sweden will be in everyone’s interest. I look forward to also welcoming Sweden as a full member of the Nato family as soon as possible,” he said.
(Photo: Nato)
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