Turkey prepares to lift its veto on Finland's entry into NATO without Sweden

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a speech at the presidential palace in Ankara, March 10, 2022. © Burhan Ozbilici / AP

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2 min

Turkey and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are preparing to lift their veto on Finland's accession to NATO. According to Helsinki, this decision will be officially announced on Friday (March 17th), during a visit by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö to the country, paving the way for ratification in the Turkish Parliament. But Ankara continues to block Sweden's accession.

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With our correspondent in Istanbul, Anne Andlauer

Decoupling Finland's NATO membership from Sweden's is a possibility Turkish officials have been suggesting for several months. Finland had to accept this formula to make it possible, and its president had to travel to Turkey to make it official.

This is in any case the announcement that is expected for Friday, after an exchange between Sauli Niinistö and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We will do our part ... We will keep our promise " said the Turkish President, referring to the visit of his Finnish counterpart.

Seen from Ankara, this formula has at least three advantages. For Recep Tayyip Erdogan, campaigning for re-election in the May 14 election, it is a question of reminding the Turks of his firm position on this issue. Also to stress that if Finland can enter NATO, it is because it has acceded to Turkey's demands, including the resumption of exports of military equipment.

Conversely, it is a question of increasing pressure on Sweden, accused of hosting "terrorists" - notably Kurds - claimed by Ankara.

With this approach, the Turkish president also wants to weaken a little his image as a bad student of NATO. Together with Hungary, Turkey is the latest member of the Alliance not yet to have ratified the accession of the two Nordic countries.

► READ ALSO: Turkey takes advantage of anti-Islam incidents to block Sweden's entry into NATO

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Read on on the same topics:

  • Turkey
  • NATO
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Diplomacy
  • Sweden
  • Finland
  • Sauli Niinistö