The Finns are now waiting for Hungary’s approval and hope that Turkey’s decision will push the country towards a positive response. According to the latest data, the Hungarians could ratify the membership of Finland and Sweden on March 27. The next step is the approval of changes to Finnish law and the transfer of the instrument of accession to the United States for safekeeping.
Niinistö has been in Turkey since Thursday. Erdogan invited the Finnish President to make an official statement on Finland’s NATO membership. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is also in Ankara. He participated in the meeting of the Council of Turkish States, where Hungary is an observer. A meeting between Niinistö and Orban is not planned.
At a press conference, Erdogan recalled that Sweden had not complied with the requirements regarding the extradition of those involved in terrorism to Ankara. They are members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, considered terrorist in Turkey, as well as the FETO organization of Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, which is believed to be involved in the 2016 coup attempt.
Sweden applied for NATO membership at the same time as Finland. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday he had nothing against joining the alliance after Finland. In January, Ankara called off talks with Sweden after far-right Danish politician Rasmus Paludan publicly burned a Quran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
