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NATO Edges Closer to Expansion as Turkey Backs Finland’s Bid

  • Turkey, Hungary both signal backing to Finnish NATO entry
  • Sweden’s timeline for accession is shrouded in uncertainty
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, greets Sauli Niinisto in Ankara on March 17.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, greets Sauli Niinisto in Ankara on March 17.Photographer: Adem Altan/Getty Images
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Turkey and Hungary both signaled they plan to ratify Finland’s entry into NATO, bringing the military alliance a step closer to welcoming its 31st member as the ripples from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spread across the European security landscape.

“We’ve decided to start the process for the approval of Finland’s membership in our parliament,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a news conference Friday together with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto in Ankara. He added he hoped to complete the approval process for Finland by May 14 elections due in Turkey.