Finland is set to finally be part of NATO following Türkiye's decision to ratify its accession to the Western defense alliance.

The Turkish parliament was the last among the 30 members to approve Finland's membership after Hungary's legislature approved a similar bill earlier this week.

It was the last hurdle for the country to become part of the defense alliance as the conflict in Ukraine continues.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "All 30 NATO allies have now ratified the accession protocol. Finland will formally join our alliance in the coming days."

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said earlier in March that Finland had secured Türkiye's blessing after taking concrete steps to keep promises to crack down on groups seen by Ankara as terrorists, and to free up defense exports.

Finland and Sweden asked to join NATO last year in response to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But the process has been held up by Türkiye and Hungary. The parliaments of all NATO members must ratify newcomers.

"NATO membership will strengthen Finland's security and improve stability and security in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe," the Finnish government said following the Turkish parliament vote.

Türkiye is still holding off approving the membership bid of Finland's neighbor Sweden, which Ankara says has not gone far enough in cracking down on Türkiye considers terrorists. The three countries signed a pact on the issue last year.

Finland's membership would represent the first enlargement since North Macedonia joined the alliance in 2020.

The U.S. State Department welcomed Türkiye's ratification for Finland and encouraged it to also quickly push through Sweden's accession.

"Sweden and Finland are both strong, capable partners that share NATO's values and will strengthen the Alliance and contribute to European security," a department spokesperson said.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin added: "Finland stands with Sweden now and in the future and supports its application."

What happens next?

The U.S. and other NATO countries are hoping the two Nordic countries become members of the alliance at a NATO summit due for July 11 in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.

The Turkish parliament's ratification of Finland's NATO membership is set to be approved by President Tayyip Erdogan and then published in the country's Official Gazette.

Finland has already completed the legal ratification process for its own part, in anticipation of its upcoming parliamentary election on Sunday and a corresponding electoral recess which could have otherwise postponed the process by some months.

Having completed the ratification process, Türkiye and Hungary need to send their approving documents to the U.S. government in Washington, which is the depository of NATO under the alliance's founding treaty.

Stoltenberg will then formally invite Finland to join NATO. As a final step, Finland will deliver its "instrument of accession," a document signed by its foreign minister, with the U.S. government.

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