Finland And Sweden To Formally Submit Their NATO Bids Together

 

Politico: Finland and Sweden sign off on NATO bids — now the waiting game begins 

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö visits Stockholm as two countries prepare to join military alliance. 

STOCKHOLM — The ink was still drying on Sweden and Finland’s applications to join NATO on Tuesday when Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö arrived at the royal palace in Stockholm in a horse-drawn carriage. 

Niinistö’s state visit, scheduled several weeks ago, is seen as a potential bookend to what has been a rapid process of domestic and international discussions over accession by the two Nordic states into the Western defense alliance. 

Earlier Tuesday, in front of TV cameras, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde had signed her country’s official application, which she said would soon go to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg alongside a similar paper from Finland.  

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Update #1: Sweden and Finland to formally submit Nato bids ‘hand in hand’ (The Guardian) 

Update #2: Sweden, Finland push ahead with NATO bids as Turkey objects (AP)  

WNU Editor: The only obstacle for Sweden and Finland in their NATO bids is Turkey .... Turkey threatens to block Finland and Sweden Nato bids (BBC). But I am willing to bet that in the coming weeks NATO is going to give a deal to Turkey that will motivate Turkish President Erdogan to drop his opposition to both Finland and Sweden from joining NATO.