Categories: Global

Finnish president optimistic Turkey will ratify Finland’s NATO application

HELSINKI (Reuters): Finnish president Sauli Niinisto is optimistic Turkey will ratify Finland’s application to join NATO, he told reporters on Friday.

“I’m optimistic that at the end Turkey will ratify our membership, I hope it takes place as soon as possible,” Niinisto told a joint news conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Vilnius.

Finland and neighboring Sweden applied for membership of the defense alliance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The process has been prolonged by negotiations between Finland, Sweden and Turkey after Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan claimed the Nordic countries support groups Turkey deems terrorists.

Niinisto repeated his stance that Finland and Sweden joining together would benefit the whole alliance.

“It’s very important to walk hand in hand with Sweden … Swedish membership is important for all of us,” he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is currently in Turkey and will meet with Erdogan on Friday while Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson is due to travel to Ankara on Nov. 8.

The Frontier Post

Recent Posts

Syria detains defense, interior ministry members suspected of Sweida violence

REUTERS (Reuters) : Syria has interrogated and detained members of its defense and interior ministries…

3 hours ago

Israeli military pushes further into Gaza City, forcing more displacement

REUTERS (Reuters): The Israeli military moved deeper into Gaza City on Wednesday, with soldiers and…

4 hours ago

Turkish authorities order new detentions of opposition officials

ISTANBUL (AFP) : Turkish authorities ordered the detention of seven officials from opposition-run municipalities in…

4 hours ago

6 killed in attack on passenger vehicle in Lower Kurram

F.P. Report KURRAM : At least six people were killed when unknown assailants opened fire…

4 hours ago

Two IHC judges question transparency ahead of full-court meeting

F.P. Report ISLAMABAD : Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges Babar Sattar and Sardar Ejaz Ishaq…

5 hours ago

Khawaja Asif should resign if he is not satisfied with govt: Hanif Abbasi

F.P. Report ISLAMABAD : Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi surprised many in the National Assembly…

5 hours ago

This website uses cookies.