Turkey and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are about to lift their veto on Finland’s NATO membership. According to Helsinki, this decision will be officially announced on Friday March 17, 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 membership.
With our correspondent in Istanbul, Anne Andlauer
Dissociating NATO membership of Finland from that of Sweden is a possibility that Turkish officials have been suggesting for several months. He Finland would have had to accept this formula to make it possible, and that its president travel to Turkey to make it official.
In any case, this is the announcement that is expected for Friday, following an exchange between Sauli Niinistö and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. ” We will do our part […] We will keep our promise “, declared 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 his re-election in the May 14 election, it is a question of reminding the Turks of his firm position in this dossier. Also to point out that if Finland can join NATOis that it agreed to Turkey’s demands, in particular the resumption of exports of military equipment.
It is, conversely, to increase the pressure on Swedenaccused of harboring “terrorists” – especially Kurds – claimed by Ankara.
With this step, the Turkish president also wants to attenuate a little his image of bad pupil of NATO. Along with Hungary, Turkey is the last member of the Alliance not yet to have ratified the accession of the two Nordic countries.
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