NATO accession: Sweden and Finland take the next step - Scholz's statement on the Erdogan bloc gives hope

Created: 05/18/2022, 05:38

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi

Sweden has officially signed the NATO membership application.

Finland's parliament has now also agreed to join.

The news ticker.

• Parliament in Helsinki agrees

  : The Finnish parliament agreed to join NATO.

• Scholz

  welcomes

  Sweden and Finland

  : Chancellor Scholz again assured Sweden and Finland of his support.

• War in Ukraine

  pushes

  Sweden

  and

  Finland

  into

  NATO

  : The Swedish government has signed the application for membership and is now waiting for Finland to send it to the alliance.

• This

  news ticker on Sweden's and Finland's plans to join NATO

  is constantly being updated.

Update from May 17, 7:27 p.m .:

In the midst of Finland’s efforts to join NATO, the state-owned energy company Gasum has warned of a Russian gas supply stop.

There is an "increased risk" for such a step by Moscow, the company said on Tuesday.

The official reason could be Finland's refusal to pay for Russian gas in rubles.

However, gas accounts for only eight percent of the Finnish energy mix.

Update from May 17, 4:50 p.m .:

Finland and Sweden want to submit their membership applications to NATO together on Wednesday.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said this on Tuesday at a joint press conference with Finland's President Sauli Niinistö in Stockholm.

The Finnish parliament had previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of a NATO membership application.

In Sweden, Foreign Minister Ann Linde signed her country's application on Tuesday morning.

Her counterpart Pekka Haavisto wanted to sign the Finnish document in the early evening. 

Sauli Niinistö (l), President of Finland, and Magdalena Andersson, Prime Minister of Sweden.

© Anders Wiklund/Tt/dpa

Update from May 17, 4:05 p.m .:

US President Joe Biden will receive Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö

on Thursday

In addition to the NATO bids, the meeting in the White House will deal with "European security", a deeper partnership between the three countries on a number of issues and support for Ukraine, as the White House announced.

Finland's NATO accession: Parliament in Helsinki agrees - 188 MPs say "yes" to the alliance

Update from May 17, 2:30 p.m .:

The Finnish parliament has approved an application for the country’s NATO membership.

MEPs ended a two-day debate.

188 MPs voted in favor of an application for membership in NATO.

Only eight opposed the plan.

With the application, Finland is reacting to a changed security situation caused by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

NATO accession: Scholz welcomes Sweden and Finland - Chancellor confident about Turkey's role

Update from May 17, 2:15 p.m .:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz described Sweden and Finland’s plans to join NATO as a “historic step” for both the alliance and Europe.

The countries were reacting to the Ukraine war and the "dramatic change in the security situation in Europe," he emphasized at a press conference with his counterpart from Lichtenstein, Daniel Risch.

"The federal government wholeheartedly welcomes this sovereign decision by our Scandinavian friends," said Scholz.

With Finland and Sweden, two valued allies are gained.

The Chancellor announced that Germany would support a speedy process and invited other countries to do the same.

Scholz also commented on Turkey's resistance: "We see how Turkey acts.

In the current conflict situation, it has acted very constructively, for example with regard to the passage of the Bosporus.

That's why I'm confident."

NATO membership: Sweden's application for membership has been officially signed

First report:

Munich/Stockholm - Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde

signed her country's NATO membership application on Tuesday

"Our NATO application is now officially signed," Linde wrote on Twitter.

This will now be sent to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as soon as Finland has signed an application.

NATO accession: Ukraine war pushes Sweden and Finland to NATO - "the best for us"

The two countries, which decided to apply for membership in the military alliance under the impression of the Ukraine conflict, want to submit their membership applications together.

Finland's President Sauli Niinistö and the Finnish government have already decided to submit an application.

The Finnish parliament could still vote on Tuesday.

The Swedish government made the final decision on the NATO membership application on Monday.

"It feels big, it feels serious, it feels like we've ended up doing what we think is best for Sweden," Linde said.

Russia under ruler Vladimir Putin criticized the decision and threatened "far-reaching consequences".

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde looks at photographers as she signs Sweden's application for NATO membership at the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm.

© Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency/AP/dpa

Finland and Sweden in NATO: Swedish king praises step - "historical course setting"

Sweden's King Carl XVI.

Gustaf, meanwhile, emphasized his country's intention to join NATO "simultaneously and in agreement with Finland".

"This is a historic step that we are taking side by side with our brother country," he said at a press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in Stockholm.

Niinistö had previously arrived in the Swedish capital for a two-day state visit.

The challenges posed by Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine meant "opportunities for consensus and deeper cooperation to stand together even more," the monarch said.

Niinistö added: “Our security policy line has been a similar one for a long time.

And even now, when the situation requires it, we are taking our steps together.” The Finnish President is expected to sign his country's membership application during the state visit to Stockholm. 

Finland and Sweden joining NATO: resistance from Turkey - Niinistö expresses hope

But there is resistance from Turkey.

Ankara could potentially block Sweden and Finland from joining NATO.

Head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously accused both countries of supporting the banned PKK and described them as a "guest house for terrorist organizations".

"Turkey's statements have changed a lot in the past few days and have become very tough," Finland's President Niinistö was quoted as saying by the Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

Nevertheless, according to Niinistö, he hopes that the situation will calm down through "constructive talks".