Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Reports of two IOF soldiers killed in military vehicle explosion in Rafah.
Israeli media: Israeli soldier killed, another wounded in explosion in Rafah.
Medical sources in West Bank: Palestinian killed by occupation fire; wounded and left to bleed while ambulance crews were barred from reaching him in Al-Ain refugee camp, west of Nablus.
Hamas: Facts on ground reveal opposite of claims, as occupation authorities were ones who armed criminal gangs that practiced murder and kidnapping against people of Gaza.
Hamas: US Department of State's false claims fully in line with Israeli disinformation.
Hamas responds to US claims in statement, fully rejects US claims of "imminent attack" or violation of ceasefire.
Field sources in West Bank: Israeli bulldozers vandalize Palestinian lands northwest of Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Settlers attack Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Armed Israeli settlers torch Palestinian vehicles near olive groves in Turmus Ayya north of Ramallah.
Israeli PM Office: Netanyahu has ordered that the Rafah crossing will not open until further notice.

Finnish parliament gives early greenlight to NATO entry

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 1 Mar 2023 21:18
3 Min Read

Finnish lawmakers approve legislation affirming that Finland accepts the terms of the NATO treaty by 184 votes against seven.

  • x
  • finland
    Finnish Parliament votes on Finland's accession to NATO in Helsinki, March 1, 2023 (Reuters)

Finland's parliament on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining NATO, ahead of ratifications from Hungary and Turkey, increasing the likelihood it will enter the US-led military alliance before Nordic neighbor Sweden.

After the start of the Ukraine war, both Finland and Sweden dropped their decades-long policies of military non-alignment and applied to join the trans-Atlantic defense pact last May.

However, Sweden has had several diplomatic spats with NATO member Turkey, which threatens to delay its membership bid and chances of joining at the same time as Finland.

Finnish lawmakers approved legislation affirming that Finland accepts the terms of the NATO treaty by 184 votes against seven, with one abstention and seven MPs not being present.

"The vote is an important step on our NATO path. The security of the homeland is a common cause," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen wrote on Twitter.

Joining NATO requires ratification from its 30 members, and Hungary and Turkey remain the holdouts.

Finland's parliament pushed for the legislation to be passed pre-emptively, ahead of April 2 general elections, to avoid the ratifications coming in before a new government has been formed.

Markus Mustajarvi from the Left Alliance party -- which has been vocal in its NATO opposition in the past -- had asked lawmakers to strike down the bill, citing a lack of guarantees that nuclear weapons would not be placed in Finland.

Read more: Finland begins wall construction on Russian border

Finland could join NATO alone

Related News

Viktor Orban warns European Union risks collapse without reform

EU mulls curbing Russian oil pipeline supplies to Hungary, Slovakia

Passing the bill does not mean Finland will automatically join NATO after ratification by Turkey and Hungary, but it puts in place a deadline for how long it can wait for Sweden.

The government's chancellor of justice, Tuomas Poysti, said after the bill is approved by the parliament, the President can wait a maximum of three months to sign it.

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto told reporters last week that he intended to sign the law "as soon as it is approved by parliament," but "if there are practical reasons, I can wait."

"But not beyond the elections" set for April, Niinisto added.

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said Finland joining alone could "complicate" the close military cooperation between the Nordic countries.

However, a February poll suggested that a majority of Finns want to join NATO even if Sweden's membership is delayed.

Turkey announced on Monday that negotiations with Finland and Sweden would resume on March 9, after talks with Sweden were dropped over a row about protests in Stockholm attacking the Turkish leadership, as well as the burning of the holy Quran in front of Turkey's embassy.

Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan's main complaint has been with Sweden's refusal to extradite dozens of suspects that Ankara links to Kurdish groups and a 2016 coup attempt.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that Ankara now looked favorably on Finland's bid, adding that "we may separate Sweden and Finland's membership process."

Hungary on Wednesday began debating Finland and Sweden's NATO application bids, with the ratification set for between March 6 and 9, although delays are expected.

One request vs. a long list of conditions
While #Turkey had a long list of conditions from #Finland and #Sweden, all the two Nordic states wanted was to join #NATO.
Here's your guide to understanding on what basis the agreement was made. pic.twitter.com/Aw7Jtu7frp

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 28, 2022

Read more: Biden says warned Putin of Finland joining NATO

  • Hungary
  • Turkey
  • Nato
  • Finland
  • Sweden
  • Nato Alliance
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Iraqi religious leader Sheikh Jawad al-Khalisi on Al Mayadeen Plus, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Most powerful decision-maker in Iraq is US: Sheikh Al-Khalisi

Flags of Iran, Russia, and China (IRNA)
Politics

Iran, Russia, China confirm: Iran nuclear issue out of UNSC

Member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc Ali Fayyad speaks to Al Mayadeen, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Hezbollah, allies will reject direct talks with 'Israel': MP Fayyad

The bodies of killed Palestinians held by "Israel" during the war are downloaded from Red Cross vehicles after their release, at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP)
Politics

From rubble to graveyards, Gaza continues recovering its martyrs

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS