Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin urged Turkey and Hungary to approve Sweden and Finland’s applications to join the NATO alliance. This comes as the two countries are the remaining members who have yet to ratify Sweden and Finland’s membership.
Speaking at a joint news conference with other Nordic leaders Tuesday, Marin urged Turkey and Hungary to quickly approve of Finland and Sweden’s application to join NATO. The two countries sought to apply for NATO membership due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sweden and Finland also reiterated last week that they would join NATO at the same time amidst objections from Turkey.
“All eyes are now on Hungary and Turkey. We are waiting for these countries to ratify our applications. I think it would be important that this would happen preferably sooner than later,” said Marin.
Turkey has raised objections to the accession of the two countries, particularly Sweden. Ankara has accused Sweden and Finland of harboring groups that it deems to be terrorists.
Friday last week, Marin said Turkey had more concerns with Sweden than her own country but said that Finland would not leave Sweden behind in the process. Sweden’s new Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, said that they have been taking all the steps needed, “hand in hand, none of us have any other ambition” and that he will be meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan soon.
“It’s completely legitimate that Turkey gets confirmation that Sweden is doing what Sweden has committed to do within the framework of the agreement,” said Kristersson. Sweden’s Aftonbladet said on the same day that Turkey had invited Sweden to a bilateral meeting in Ankara on November 8.
Kristersson also said on the same day that Sweden remains committed to meeting the terms of the deal with Turkey that was brokered in Madrid to secure its approval for them to join the NATO alliance. Kristersson said Stockholm would uphold its part in the deal and that the Swedish government is working hard to fulfill the terms of the agreement and will report on what they have achieved so far.
Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billstrom said later last month that the government has made accession to the alliance a top priority.


Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall
Trump Congratulates Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi After Historic Election Victory
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran
Bosnian Serb Presidential Rerun Confirms Victory for Dodik Ally Amid Allegations of Irregularities
Bangladesh Election 2026: A Turning Point After Years of Political Suppression
Federal Judge Restores Funding for Gateway Rail Tunnel Project
Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
Sydney Braces for Pro-Palestine Protests During Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Visit
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday
Trump Administration Appeals Court Order to Release Hudson Tunnel Project Funding
Antonio José Seguro Poised for Landslide Win in Portugal Presidential Runoff
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks
Taiwan Says Moving 40% of Semiconductor Production to the U.S. Is Impossible
Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party Wins Thai Election, Signals Shift Toward Political Stability
Ghislaine Maxwell to Invoke Fifth Amendment at House Oversight Committee Deposition 



