Finland to join Nato after Turkey U-turn

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, the president of Turkey, yesterday approved Finland’s bid to join Nato after months of diplomatically charged delays.

A simultaneous decision by fellow hold-out Hungary to schedule a Finnish ratification vote for March 27 means the Us-led defence alliance is set to grow to 31 nations.

However, Mr Erdogan refused to sign off on Sweden’s bid to join Nato.

Helsinki and Stockholm ended decades of military non-alignment last year when they applied to join the bloc in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their applications were accepted at a June Nato summit. But the bids had to be ratified by all 30 of the alliance members’ parliaments – with Turkey and Hungary holding out.

The US and Nato both welcomed the change of heart and urged the two countries to also ratify Sweden’s application as soon as possible.

Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, said: “Sweden and Finland will strengthen the alliance.”

Jens Stoltenberg, Nato secretary general, said: “The most important thing is that Finland and Sweden become full members of Nato quickly, not whether they join at exactly the same time.”