Finland and Sweden transfer nearer to NATO membership — RT World Information
The 2 Nordic international locations have signed accession protocols, which should now be ratified by all 30 member states
Each Finland and Sweden have taken one step nearer to turning into full-fledged members of NATO after the ambassadors from all 30 member states of the US-led bloc signed accession protocols for the 2 Nordic international locations on Tuesday.
The accession ceremony was held on the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, the place NATO Secretary Normal Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Finnish International Minister Pekka Haavisto and his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde.
Finland and Sweden utilized to affix NATO earlier this yr after each deciding to interrupt with their longtime traditions of neutrality to affix the group, claiming it was essential as a result of Russian navy operation in Ukraine.
Whereas most bloc members instantly welcomed the 2 Nordic international locations to the alliance, their bids had been placed on maintain by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused Sweden and Finland of being havens for Kurdish militants and selling “terrorism.”
Ankara warned that it might torpedo the international locations’ bids to affix the bloc until they condemned and extradited members of “terrorist” organizations and lifted arms embargoes positioned on Turkey.
Final week, Turkey ended its objection after the 2 Nordic international locations signed a 10-point settlement beneath which they promised to reply to the extradition requests, take away export controls and stop assist for the teams Ankara considers terrorist.
Nonetheless, Erdogan has warned that he might block the method once more if Ankara’s calls for are usually not met.
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