01:59Turkey: Erdogan meets President of Finland Niinisto ahead of NATO talks in Istanbul
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto ahead of NATO talks in Ankara, on Friday.
Footage shows the Turkish Presidential Guard Regiment escorting the Finnish president’s car while holding flags of Turkey and Finland. Erdogan could also be seen greeting Niniisto and shaking hands during the ceremony.
The President of Turkey declared that his country would approve Finland's NATO membership and start the ratification process in parliament. However, Sweden will still have to wait. Hungary is yet to decide on Finland's membership as well.
Erdogan made this announcement following a meeting with the Finnish President. The ratification process of Finland's accession protocol could be completed by mid-April, before the Turkish parliamentary elections on May 14, when parliament will stop working. Earlier, during a joint press conference, Erdogan emphasised the concerns regarding “Kurdish terrorist activity in Finland” and mentioned that his country “is one of the strong defenders of NATO’s open-door policy.”
It is reportedly anticipated that Hungary would give its approval for Finland's membership in NATO next week, rather than risk being the only remaining member of the alliance to oppose it and be isolated.
Ever since their application in May 2022, Sweden and Finland have continuously stressed their desire to be accepted into NATO together.
01:59Mandatory Credit: Turkish President’s Office
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto ahead of NATO talks in Ankara, on Friday.
Footage shows the Turkish Presidential Guard Regiment escorting the Finnish president’s car while holding flags of Turkey and Finland. Erdogan could also be seen greeting Niniisto and shaking hands during the ceremony.
The President of Turkey declared that his country would approve Finland's NATO membership and start the ratification process in parliament. However, Sweden will still have to wait. Hungary is yet to decide on Finland's membership as well.
Erdogan made this announcement following a meeting with the Finnish President. The ratification process of Finland's accession protocol could be completed by mid-April, before the Turkish parliamentary elections on May 14, when parliament will stop working. Earlier, during a joint press conference, Erdogan emphasised the concerns regarding “Kurdish terrorist activity in Finland” and mentioned that his country “is one of the strong defenders of NATO’s open-door policy.”
It is reportedly anticipated that Hungary would give its approval for Finland's membership in NATO next week, rather than risk being the only remaining member of the alliance to oppose it and be isolated.
Ever since their application in May 2022, Sweden and Finland have continuously stressed their desire to be accepted into NATO together.