Finland’s president and government have announced that the Nordic country intends to apply for membership in NATO, paving the way for the 30-member Western military alliance to expand amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Finland’s ministry for foreign affairs has tweeted regarding today’s announcement that the country intends to join Nato.
Nato membership, it says “offers Finland the most security” in light of its own security environment having “changed fundamentally”.
Finland’s minister for foreign affairs, Pekka Haavisto, is quoted as saying:
By joining Nato, Finland will strengthen its own security and that of all Europe. We are making this historic decision for future generations.
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö says he is ready to meet Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over Nato membership concerns.
Erdogan has raised objections to Finland and Sweden joining. As Turkey is a Nato member, it could veto their applications.
Niinistö said he was “a bit confused” about what he said was a shift in Turkey’s stance, Reuters reports.
What we need now is a very clear answer, I am prepared to have a new discussion with president Erdogan about the problems he has raised.
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