Steph Deschamps / June 29, 2022
Turkey has signed a memorandum of understanding lifting Ankara's block on Sweden and Finland's application to join NATO, the Finnish Presidency announced Tuesday.
This agreement signed in front of the cameras by the heads of diplomacy of the three countries at the beginning of the summit of the Atlantic Alliance in Madrid confirms that Turkey will, at the summit this week, support the invitation of Finland and Sweden to join NATO, announced Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in a statement.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has obtained full cooperation from Finland and Sweden against the Kurdish fighters of the PKK and their allies, the Turkish Presidency announced Tuesday evening in a statement. This last point was at the origin of the tensions of Turkey in the file, the latter accusing Finland and Sweden of sheltering terrorists linked to the PKK.
Turkey agreed to the entry of these two Nordic countries into NATO after more than three hours of discussions Tuesday in Madrid, on the sidelines of the summit of the Atlantic Alliance.
The NATO countries will officially invite Sweden and Finland to join the Alliance on Wednesday, announced the Secretary General of NATO to the press.