By John Ikani
Turkey has finally approved Finland’s application to become the 31st member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), ending months of delay.
NATO expansion requires the support of all its members.
Turkey had earlier accused Finland of supporting terrorists and had blocked its bid to join the alliance for several months.
Ankara also blocked Sweden’s bid to join NATO, citing similar complaints.
With its powerful artillery and 1,340km border with Russia, Finland is ditching its neutrality and joining the alliance in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden, which applied to join NATO at the same time, also abandoned its longstanding neutrality but does not share a border with Russia.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has continued to oppose Sweden’s application, accusing the country of promoting Kurdish militants and allowing them to stage protests in Stockholm.
Finland’s formal admission to the alliance will take place at the upcoming summit in July in Lithuania, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who expressed his delight in a tweet, adding that the move would make the alliance stronger and safer.
Finnish public opinion on NATO membership changed rapidly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with support for joining the alliance rising from one-third to nearly 80%.
The principle of collective defense, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all, is a key NATO principle.
Finnish leaders believe that joining NATO would enhance their country’s security and reduce the risk of an attack from Russia.
Helsinki has welcomed Turkey’s decision, noting that it would bolster the country’s security and enhance stability in the region.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin tweeted that as allies, they would offer and receive security, defend each other, and support Sweden’s application.
Meanwhile, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is unhappy about Finland’s NATO membership.
Finland’s accession to NATO is set to further isolate Russia’s coastal access in St. Petersburg and its exclave of Kaliningrad.
