NATO signs accession protocols for Finland and Sweden
Important step for joining NATO: The accession protocols for Finland and Sweden were signed in Brussels.
The accession protocols required for the admission of Sweden and Finland were signed this Tuesday at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Representatives from all 30 member states attended the morning ceremony. Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde and her Finnish colleague Pekka Haavisto were there as guests.
By signing the accession protocols, the governments of the NATO countries authorize the Secretary General of the alliance to officially invite Sweden and Finland to join. However, before the protocols can come into force, they still have to be ratified by the states. The national parliament is usually also involved in this procedure. According to estimates, it could therefore take another six to eight months before Finland and Sweden can actually be admitted to the alliance.
Turkey blocked the application process
Actually, the protocols for the two Nordic countries should have been signed several weeks ago. However, Turkey blocked the accession process, citing Sweden and Finland’s alleged support of “terrorist organizations” such as the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK, the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG and the Gülen movement as a reason. Only when both countries pledged in a written declaration on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid last week that they would respond to several of Turkey’s demands did Turkey give up its resistance to the start of the admissions process.
Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership on May 18 under the impression of the Russian attack on Ukraine. For decades, the two Nordic countries had prioritized alliance neutrality.
