The leaders of Finland and Sweden expressed hope that Turkey and Hungary will ratify their programs for the NATO club “as soon as possible. “
At a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said she had a phone call with NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg earlier Tuesday to discuss “ratifying our club’s request. “
“Our eyes are now on Hungary and, of course, Turkey, and we are waiting for those countries to ratify our applications. I think it would be very good if this was carried out preferably as soon as possible,” Marin said.
A bit of history: Sweden and Finland signed a memorandum with Turkey in June, pledging to address Turkey’s security considerations over terrorism and arms exports after Ankara opposed its initial offer to join the alliance.
Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on Oct. 26 that Hungary had “made it clear” that it would soon ratify the accession protocol, which would allow either country to complete the alliance’s membership.
Marin’s Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, noted the “rapid” nature of the ratification process, pointing to the fact that 28 of the 30 alliance members have already ratified their demands.
“We fully respect the fact that the alliance country makes its own decision. I had a phone call [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan the other day and we agreed that I would go to Ankara, and I will speak the precise date when it is officially confirmed,” Kristersson added.
Sweden and Finland announced plans to join NATO in May, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a sudden shift in attitude toward joining the bloc.