March 23rd 2023.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) Finland's 200-seat Eduskunta legislature gave its overwhelming 184-7 approval to the country's bid to join Nato on March 1. With Sweden also signing off on their own membership bill in parliament earlier this week, the two close partners culturally, economically and politically, submitted their applications together and planned to enter the alliance at the same time. The former has the largest land border with Russia out of any European nation, making their application one of the biggest geopolitical ramifications of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. To be admitted, approval from all alliance members is needed, with the parliaments in Ankara and Budapest yet to give the go-ahead. Last week, President Sauli Niinistö paid a visit to Ankara, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to progress the ratification of Finland's application, with this expected before Turkey holds national elections on May 14.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) Finland's 200-seat Eduskunta legislature gave a definitive 184-7 majority in favor of the country's Nato bid on March 1, which was followed soon after by Sweden's own approval of their membership to the Western military alliance. The two Nordic countries plan to enter the organization simultaneously, with the process now only requiring ratification from Turkey and Hungary, who are the only two of the alliance's 30 existing members that have not yet sanctioned the bid. This application is seen as one of the most significant geopolitical effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, given Finland's lengthy 832 mile land border with the country. President Sauli Niinistö has recently visited Ankara and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to progress with ratifying Finland's application which is likely to be finished before Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk)
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