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Turkey says yes to Swedish and Finnish NATO membership

The great NATO summit in Madrid is underway, and one of the major topics on the agenda is the conflict between Turkey, Sweden and Finland.

Kaos

The latter two have, as is well known, applied for membership in the defense alliance, but the process has been slowed down by Turkey taking a negative stance towards the two Nordic countries becoming part of NATO.

MEET ERDOGAN: On Tuesday, Magdalena Andersson met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the NATO summit. Photo: HENRIK MONTGOMERY / TT

On Tuesday night, Sweden, Finland and Turkey signed a joint document.

There it became known that Turkey is turning around, and saying yes to a Swedish and Finnish membership in NATO.

The information is confirmed by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, according to Reuters.

– Imminent

Niinistö says the breakthrough came after the three countries decided to sign a joint memorandum “to expand their full support for threats to each other’s security,” the president said, according to the news agency.

“The concrete steps for our accession to NATO will be decided by the NATO allies within the next two days, but that decision is now imminent,” the president said in a statement.

– I’m happy

Niinistö says he is now looking forward to completing Finland’s NATO process.

– I now look forward to fruitful talks on Finland’s role in NATO with our future allies here in Madrid, the President concludes.

On Tuesday night, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will meet the press.

– I am happy to confirm that we have now agreed, says Stoltenberg.

MEET THE PRESS: Jens Stoltenberg told the press about the NATO decision on Tuesday night.  Photo: VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA

MEET THE PRESS: Jens Stoltenberg told the press about the NATO decision on Tuesday night. Photo: VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA

The NATO chief would like to thank Erdogan, Andersson and Niinisto for the constructive talks.

– NATO has always managed to find a common ground and solve our differences, says Stoltenberg.

– Even stronger

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre describes this as a historic day.

– With Sweden and Finland in NATO, we get an even stronger defense alliance in Europe, it has never been more important. For us in Norway, this means a safer and stronger defense cooperation with our neighboring countries in the north, says Gahr Støre to TV 2.

– Got what we wanted

Turkey “got what they wanted” from the talks with Sweden and Finland, it is said in a statement from the Turkish president.

“Turkey has made significant progress in the fight against terrorist organizations,” the Turkish statement said on Tuesday night.

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