Finland, Sweden submit NATO membership applications
(4 years ago)Finland and Sweden have officially applied to membership in the NATO alliance. Representatives of the two states have submitted applications at the alliance headquarters in Brussels. The decision of the two Nordic states, which have been neutral, was prompted following security concerns due to the unprotested Russian invasion of Ukraine. I warmly welcome the demands of [...]
The decision of the two Nordic states, which have been neutral, was prompted following security concerns due to the unprotested Russian invasion of Ukraine.
I warmly welcome the demands of Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are best partners”, said Secretary General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, after receiving official membership applications from ambassadors of two Nordic states.
Stoltenberg named this movement “historical day”.
The accession process is expected to last two weeks, meanwhile, ratification in the parliaments of 30 member states by one year, diplomats have said.
Despite the accession process is expected to take weeks, Turkey's president, Recep Tayip Erdogan, is opposing the membership of Sweden and Finland.
If the concerns Turkey has and the membership talks begin are exceeded, then these two states can become members within months. The process usually takes eight to 12 months, but NATO wants to move quickly, given the threat Russia poses to these two Nordic states.
Public opinion in Finland and Sweden overwhelmingly supported membership, as Russia began the invasion of Ukraine on February 24th.