April 4, 2023
2 mins read

Finland to become 31st member of NATO, says Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg said that allies in 2022 made a decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO and noted that Finland’s accession has been the fastest ratification process in NATO’s modern history…reports Asian Lite News

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that Finland will become a full member of NATO on April 4. His remarks came after the Turkish Parliament on March 30 voted in favour of Finland’s application to join NATO.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Stoltenberg said, “This is an historic week. Tomorrow, we will welcome Finland as the thirty-first member of NATO. Making Finland safer and our Alliance stronger.” He further said, “We will raise the Finnish flag for the first time here at the Nato headquarters. It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole. It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole,” according to the statement released on NATO’s website. He added, “Sweden will also be safer as a result.”

Jens Stoltenberg said that allies in 2022 made a decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO and noted that Finland’s accession has been the fastest ratification process in NATO’s modern history.

He said that tomorrow NATO will hold the NATO-Ukraine Commission with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to discuss the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv and the military alliance’s support for Ukraine. Stoltenberg said that he welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace plan which upholds the principles at the heart of the UN Charter.

On Friday, Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey’s decision to ratify Finland’s membership in NATO. He said that Finland’s inclusion will make the country “safer” and NATO “stronger.”

Stoltenberg said, “I welcome the vote by the Turkish Grand National Assembly to ratify Finland’s membership in NATO. All 30 NATO Allies have now ratified the accession protocol. And I have just spoken with President Sauli Niinisto to congratulate him on this historic occasion.”

On Thursday, the Turkish Parliament on Thursday voted unanimously in favour of Finland’s application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), while also continuing to block Sweden from joining the military alliance, CNN reported.

The vote in the Parliament fulfils Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “promise” to allow Finland to become part of the military alliance, as per the news report. Turkey was the last NATO member to approve Finland’s accession. Following the vote, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said his country is “ready to join NATO.”

In 2022, Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join NATO. A majority of NATO members welcomed the applications of Finland and Sweden except for Turkey and Hungary.

Turkish President Erdogan accused Finland and Sweden of housing Kurdish “terrorist organizations.” Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Finland and Sweden were disseminating “outright lies” about his country’s rule of law record, as per the CNN report.

Later, the two nations softened their stance on Finland’s accession. However, Hungary and Turkey continue to remain opposed to Sweden becoming part of NATO. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Finland’s right-wing opposition claims win in election

Previous Story

Science-20 meet begins in Tripura

Next Story

Poland delivers MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine

Latest from -Top News

The UK’s Net Zero Journey

Achieving net zero is not just a technological but also a political and cultural undertaking, writes Hasil Farooque In 2019, the United Kingdom officially committed itself to eradicate all greenhouse gas emissions

Bangladesh’s Dark Side Unveiled in Geneva

Organised by diaspora activists, the exhibit exposed rising rights abuses in Bangladesh post-Hasina…reports Asian Lite News In a bid to spotlight the deteriorating human rights situation and rising persecution of minorities in

India Outpaces Peers in Morgan Stanley Outlook

Global investment firm reaffirms India’s status as top-performing economy in latest growth outlook…reports Asian Lite News India is set to retain its position as the fastest-growing economy among nations tracked by Morgan

Debt deals, austerity still rule Colombo

IMF approves $350 million t ranche as island nation sees early signs of recovery, but challenges persist amid ongoing reforms and rising public discontent….reports Asian Lite News The International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Pakistan misses export target

Pakistan misses export target for 2024-25 despite modest growth, with rising imports widening the trade deficit and prompting urgent cost-cutting measures across key sectors….reports Asian Lite News Pakistan has fallen short of
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Finland’s right-wing opposition claims win in election

Marin congratulated on the National Coalition Party’s and Finns Party’s

Petteri Orpo to lead new Finland government

He was elected leader of the National Coalition Party at