Turkey agrees to support Finland, Sweden´s NATO bids

The Foreign Ministers of Finland, Sweden and Turkey on Tuesday signed a trilateral memorandum which confirms that Turkey will support the Finland´s and Sweden´s NATO membership applications at the Madrid Summit this week, said President Sauli Niinistö in a statement.

The President issued the official statement after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson in presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Madrid, before the beginning of the NATO Summit.

“As a result of that meeting, our foreign ministers signed a trilateral memorandum which confirms that Türkiye will at the Madrid Summit this week support the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO. The concrete steps of our accession to NATO will be agreed by the NATO Allies during the next two days, but that decision is now imminent,” said Niinistö in the statement.

The joint memorandum underscores the commitment of Finland, Sweden and Turkey to extend their full support against threats to each other’s security. Us becoming NATO Allies will further strengthen this commitment.

Over the past weeks, Turkey has raised its concerns over the threat of terrorism. Finland has constantly taken these concerns seriously, said the President, adding that Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. As a NATO member, Finland will commit fully to the counterterrorism documents and policies of NATO.

As we enhance our cooperation on counterterrorism, arms exports and extraditions, Finland naturally continues to operate according to its national legislation.

“I am delighted to conclude this stage on Finland’s road to NATO membership. I now look forward to fruitful conversations on Finland’s role in NATO with our future Allies here in Madrid,” Niinistö added.

President Sauli Niinistö, his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson held a meeting in Madrid on Tuesday to discuss Finland and Sweden´s NATO membership applications and Turkish demands.