Categories: WORLD

Finnish President Vows To Be “Strong NATO Ally” And Condemns Terrorism After Turkey Outlines Concerns

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö

In remarks at the White House, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said that “Finland will become a strong NATO ally” after meeting with US President Joe Biden along with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.

He said he hoped there would be “swift ratification” of Finland’s NATO application.

Niinistö also addressed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying he will refuse both Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO.

“Finland has always had proud and good bilateral relations to Turkey. As NATO allies, we will commit to Turkey’s security, just as Turkey will commit to our security. We take terrorism seriously. We condemn terrorism in all its forms, and we are actively engaged in combating it. We are open to discussing all the concerns Turkey may have concerning our membership in an open and constructive manner. These discussions have already taken place, and they will continue in the next days,” he said.

Earlier this week, Erdogan accused both countries of housing Kurdish “terrorist organizations.” He was mainly referencing the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which seeks an independent state in Turkey. The group has been in an armed struggle with Ankara for decades and has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

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The legislatures of all 30 current NATO members must approve new applicants.

Niinistö also spoke about how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted his country to seek NATO membership.

“[On] 24th February, I said that that the masks have fallen and we see only the cold faces of war. Russia’s war in Ukraine has changed Europe and our security environment. Finland takes the step of NATO membership in order to strengthen not only its own security, but also in order to strengthen wider transatlantic security. This is not away from anybody. Like you, Mr. President [Biden] said, NATO is protective, defensive, not a threat to anybody,” he said.

Finland shares an 800-mile-long border with Russia.

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