Finland and Sweden have abandoned the idea of ​​joining NATO together

Sweden has agreed to the scenario that Finland joins NATO first, if Turkey and Hungary ratify Finland’s application for admission to NATO, but Sweden will be made to wait, said “Iltalehti” publication on Tuesday.

Finland and Sweden will continue to inform each other about their NATO processes, while Sweden has offered its political support if it becomes clear that Finland can move towards NATO membership faster.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was asked on Tuesday in Brussels whether the admission of the two Nordic countries to the alliance at different times would be acceptable.

Stoltenberg said that simultaneous ratification is not necessary for the military alliance.

“The main thing is that both countries are accepted as full members as soon as possible,” he added.

After Stoltenberg’s statement, Mati Pesi, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Relations, tweeted: “The signal from NATO has changed.”

Anakara confirmed in February that he was positive about Finland’s application, but demanded that Sweden take a tougher stance against Turkey’s Kurdish armed separatist group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Ankara is also pushing for Sweden to condemn the group, which Turkey blames for orchestrating the failed 2016 coup.

Only Turkey and Hungary have not ratified Finland’s and Sweden’s applications for NATO membership.

The admission of new members to NATO requires the support of all members of the alliance.