Ajit Karn
After Turkey authorised the process of ratifying Finland’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United States applauded President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision and urged Ankara to “quickly ratify Sweden’s accession protocols as well.”
In a statement issued by the White House, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, “The United States welcomes President Erdogan’s announcement that he will send Finland’s NATO accession protocols to the Turkish Parliament and anticipates a swift conclusion to this process.”
“We urge Turkey to ratify Sweden’s accession protocols as soon as possible. In addition, we urge Hungary to expeditiously complete the ratification processes for both Finland and Sweden,” he added.
Sullivan added in his statement that Sweden and Finland are both strong, competent partners who share NATO’s values and will contribute to the Alliance’s strength and European security.
The statement read, “The United States believes that both countries should join NATO as soon as possible.”
Earlier, Turkey authorised the ratification process for Finland’s NATO membership.
At a simultaneous press conference with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto in Ankara, President Erdogan reportedly stated that Finland had addressed all of Turkey’s security concerns.
Erdogan stated at the press conference, “We have decided to initiate the parliamentary approval process for Finland’s NATO membership protocol.”
Erdogan stated that Turkey is one of the staunchest defenders of NATO’s open-door policy, citing negotiations on Sweden and Finland’s membership aspirations at the NATO Madrid summit in June 2022.
the President added that Turkey has seen Finland take concrete measures to fulfil its commitments in the tripartite memorandum signed at the Madrid summit in June of last year.
“With Finland’s membership, NATO will become stronger, and I believe it will play an active role in maintaining global security and stability,” Erdogan continued.
Following the conclusion of the approval procedure, he emphasised that Turkey-Finland relations will be strengthened on the basis of the NATO alliance.
Erdogan stated that Turkey will continue its discussions with Sweden on the premise of alliance principles and our approach to fighting terrorism.
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He added, “I believe that our nation’s principles and goodwill in advancing the (NATO accession) process are now more evident.”
