Erdogan indicates Turkey likely to approve Finland's NATO bid
Finland may become the next member of NATO as Erdogan signals Turkey will ratify the Scandinavian country's bid.
Turkey's parliament will "highly likely" ratify Finland's NATO accession bid before it closes in mid-April, two Turkish officials told Reuters on Wednesday, a day before Finnish President Sauli Niinisto visits the country.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan himself indicated that he would send ratification of Finland's NATO membership to parliament soon, saying that he would "keep his promise."
"Mr. President (Niinisto) will come to Turkey on Friday and we will meet. After that, we will fulfill our promise," Erdogan told reporters on Wednesday, when asked whether he would send ratification of Finland's NATO bid to Turkish parliament next week.
Finland's bid will be approved independently from that of Sweden, which had applied for membership in the Western military alliance at the same time as its Nordic neighbor after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, one senior official said.
Why Turkey won't ratify Sweden's NATO bid
Turkey has repeatedly said that Sweden needs to take additional steps against supporters of Kurdish militants and members of the network Ankara holds responsible for the 2016 coup attempt. Turkey treats both groups as terrorist organizations.
Talks between Sweden and Turkey have made little progress especially following several disputes mainly over street protests by pro-Kurdish groups in Stockholm.
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday that the likelihood of Finland joining NATO ahead of Sweden had increased, after talks between the three sides in Brussels this week.
"We are looking favorably at Finland's accession. It would not be wrong to say that accession talks will be held at different times than Sweden," one Turkish senior official said.
Another official with knowledge of the matter said Finland's approach to terrorist organizations was in line with Turkey's sensitivities and that Helsinki had taken steps in that regard.
"It is highly likely that the necessary step for Finland's NATO membership will be completed before (parliament) closes and the election is held," the official said.
Both officials declined to be named because the discussions are not public yet.
Parliament is due to close in mid-April ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for May 14.
Finland's Niinisto is due to visit Istanbul on March 16-17 to meet with Erdogan.
"Positive messages will be given to Finland's president during his visit," the second official said.
The parliaments of all 30 members of NATO have to ratify any membership bids for the alliance. Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO allies that have not yet ratified the membership of Finland and Sweden.
The United States and other NATO countries are hoping that the two Nordic countries become members of the alliance at a NATO summit due to be held in July 11 in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.
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