"The accession of Finland and Sweden will make them (Finland, Sweden and Turkey, editor's note) safer, NATO stronger and the Euro-Atlantic area safer," it said in the NATO communiqué announcing the invitation to tender.

It also states that the so-called Accession Protocols have been signed, protocols which must be approved by the parliaments of all the member states of the Alliance.

Thereafter, NATO will once again invite Sweden and Finland to the organization, now as members.

The process towards full membership is completed when the Swedish Riksdag has approved the minutes and the government has submitted a document, a so-called accession instrument, to the United States.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has always believed in a rapid accession process and according to Reuters, he is "completely convinced" that Sweden and Finland will soon be members.

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Prime Minister's words on the agreement with Turkey and Finland Photo: TT