NATO continues its dangerous and confrontational expansion with Russia. Photo: Reuters Author: Reuters

Turkey’s parliament ratified on Thursday the protocol on Finland’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), according to local media, Telesur reports.

Türkiye was the last of the 30 members of the military bloc to ratify Finland’s accession. Earlier this week, Hungary passed a similar bill paving the way for Helsinki to join the alliance.

The document was approved by the votes “for” of the 276 deputies present. Turkey was the only country out of 30 partners that has not yet ratified it, while its approval of Sweden’s entry into the military pact is still pending.

Now the decision of the Turkish parliament must be sanctioned by President Tayyip Erdogan and published in the official gazette of the country.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the decision, saying: “I welcome the vote of the Grand National Assembly in Turkey to complete the ratification of Finland’s accession. This will make the entire NATO family stronger and safer.”

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö commented on the ratification that his country would become “a strong and capable ally committed to the security of the Alliance.” We look forward to welcoming Sweden as soon as possible.”

Last May, Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO, but Turkey refused to support their membership, alleging that the two countries are harboring members of organizations that Ankara considers terrorist.

In March, the Turkish president said that Finland had taken concrete steps to fulfill its promises to crack down on these groups. At the same time, Turkey said that Sweden would have to take action against the members of the network, whom Ankara considers responsible for the attempted coup in 2016.

Source: Juventud Rebelde