Turkish parliament ratifies Finland’s NATO membership | NATO News

DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,

Finland asked to join Western defence alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Turkey was last holdout.

Turkey’s parliament has approved a bill to allow Finland to join NATO, clearing the way for Helsinki to join the Western defence alliance as war rages in Ukraine.

All 276 lawmakers present on Thursday voted in favour of Finland’s bid, days after Hungary’s parliament also endorsed Helsinki’s accession.

The Turkish parliament was the last among the 30 members of the alliance to ratify Finland’s membership.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this month that Finland had secured his country’s blessing after taking concrete steps to keep promises to crack down on groups seen by Ankara as “terrorists”, and to free up defence exports.

Finland and Sweden asked to join the trans-Atlantic military alliance last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Sweden’s bid to join the alliance, meanwhile, has been left hanging, with both Turkey and Hungary holding out on giving it the greenlight despite expressing support for NATO’s expansion.

This is a developing story. More updates to follow.