President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has finally agreed to support Finland’s application to join Nato.
Due to Finland’s alleged assistance of “terrorists,” Turkey had been preventing Finland from applying for several months.
Mr. Erdogan lauded Finland’s “genuine and concrete actions” toward Turkish security during a press conference he attended in Ankara with his Finnish colleague.
All of Nato’s members must support any expansion, and Finland is now one step closer to joining.
To accept the proposal, a vote will be submitted to the Turkish parliament.
In May of last year, Finland, which borders Russia, and Sweden submitted applications to join the Western defence alliance.
Turkish concerns prevented both from moving forward, but Mr. Erdogan continues to oppose Sweden. Finland has made the decision to go it alone.
Sauli Niinisto, president of Finland, was welcomed to the presidential palace on the blue carpet when he arrived in the pouring rain.