Helsinki [Finland], March 2: The Finnish parliament cleared the way for the country to join NATO on Wednesday, although one key obstacle - namely, Turkey - still remains before Helsinki can become an alliance member.
The parliament in Helsinki voted on Wednesday with a large majority in favour of the legislation needed for the country to join.
President SauliNiinisto still has to sign off on the bill, but has previously announced his intention to do so straight away.
The government's decision to join NATO came about in response to Europe's altered security architecture following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the legislation had been expected to pass comfortably in parliament.
Both Finland and Sweden are preparing to join the Western defence alliance and applied in May 2022, ending decades of being formally neutral.
For Finland, this is partly due to a perceived security risk from its shared 1,340-kilometre border with Russia.
However, all of NATO's 30 members must unanimously agree on admitting newcomers. While 28 have already done so, Turkey and Hungary have yet to ratify their accession.
Budapest says it has no objections to the step, and its parliament is set to debate the issue on Wednesday, with voting due to take place next week.
However, Turkey has long blocked the two Nordic aspirants' applications, citing security concerns about Sweden. Ankara says Stockholm sympathizes with and harbours what Turkey views as Kurdish terrorists.
While Finland and Sweden agreed to join the defence alliance together and repeatedly underline this intention, the tough stance by Ankara has prompted speculation that Finland could join NATO first.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday reiterated his call for Turkey and Hungary to let Finland and Sweden join the Western military alliance.
He was speaking alongside Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin during a trip to Helsinki.
Marin said the reason why Finland decided to apply for NATO membership was that the alliance's border "is the only line that Russia wouldn't cross."
Source: Qatar Tribune