Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to initiate the procedure in Parliament to ratify Finland's application for NATO membership
He stressed that "Finland has taken concrete steps to fulfil Helsinki's earlier promises". Erdogan has not yet taken a decision on the same request from Sweden. However, political observers are assured that this will happen immediately after the May presidential elections in Turkey
Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his decision at today's gathering in Ankara with Finnish president Sauli Niinisto
Finland and Sweden began to apply for membership in the North Atlantic Alliance at the same time, after a savage attack by Russians on Ukraine. Accession to NATO requires the ratification of proposals by the parliaments of all 30 North Atlantic Alliance associate States. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO countries whose parliaments have not yet ratified Finland and Sweden's proposals
Erdogan's leading typical said that the decision on Sweden would be "later". Standing alongside the Turkish leader, Niinisto told journalists that the process of joining the alliance would "not be complete without Sweden" and hopes that both countries will see each another in NATO before the Vilnius summit
Meanwhile, the Hungarian Parliament started its long-awaited debate on the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO on 1 March, but will not vote on accession protocols until the second half of March. According to experts, Budapest plays primarily for unlocking EU funds. Parliament president stated that the accession of these countries to the Alliance would increase the likelihood of military conflict
Hungarians are waiting for the result of the parliamentary talks of the delegations that they send to 2 countries to clear up disagreements over their criticism of democracy and the regulation of law in Hungary. Orban loses influence overnight with his continuous anti-Western behavior, specified as delaying Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO. His behaviour creates uncertainty in NATO, which is harmful at a time erstwhile there is simply a war in Ukraine next to him. This surely does not service NATO or Hungary. However, it is beneficial for the Kremlin, as many another steps that the Orban parties in the past year
Presidential and parliamentary elections await Turkey on 14 May. Assuming earlier ratification by the Parliament of Finland's accession, the Helsinki government inactive needs to safe Hungary's support.
Finnish president Saulim Niinisto at a press conference just after gathering with president Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked if there would be a conversation (or visit to Hungary) about Finland's accession to NATO with Prime Minister Viktor Orban briefly - No. No.
We have no subjects to discuss regarding consent (or not) Hungary for our NATO accession
Since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022. Finland is trying to strengthen its east border, which has 1340 km (832 mi) and is the longest border with Russia in the European Union. Construction of a 200-kilometre barrier at the border was started to enhance safety.
Finland and Sweden have been authoritative NATO partners since 1994 and have been active in NATO missions since the Cold War.
Finland has a smaller population than Sweden (5,5 million), but has a well-funded defence with a military force of 280,000 and another 870,000 reserveists.
Sweden spent little on defence in fresh decades, but sought to accomplish the NATO mark of 2% of economical production by 2026, with a conscription number of 24,000 in 2025 and 50,000 in 2035.
Last month, the Swedish military and safety intelligence service stated that the safety threat has been the most serious since the early 1980s and there is simply a tangible military threat that the parties to Russia are facing. The head of the Swedish MON Lina Hallin, said that the Russian military presently has limited opportunities in relation to the nearest area of Sweden, but will be able to draw conclusions from the war in Ukraine and strengthen its military presence.
The year 2022 showed that the Russian army is inactive the second army, but not in the world, but in Ukraine after the Armed Forces of Ukraine. All her claims to the global level proved unfounded. Unfortunately, only in 2022 for many Ukrainians the story of the “brother Russian people” was overthrown Although the war has been going on since 2014, even though the war is actually a 100 years old, for many Ukrainians 1 of the key Russian myths about the "Russian brother" remained valid. Many believed in it. And it was only the full-scale war and crimes committed by the Russians in the occupied areas that sobered up and led to the final demolition of this myth
