On Saturday, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said in an interview that he believes Finland and Sweden will join NATO by July, according to AP News.
Niinistö said if the admission process drags on, the whole process will become questionable, hinting that the US should put pressure on Turkey to approve their membership bid.
“If it doesn’t happen by the Vilnius meeting [July 11-12], why should it happen afterwards?“
– Sauli Niinstö, President of Finland
NATO requires unanimous approval from its 30-member states, but so far Turkey and Hungary haven’t formally endorsed Finland and Sweden’s ascension.
Hungary has pledged to do so in February, but Turkey hasn’t indicated any willingness due to recent demonstrations in Stockholm and the burning of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy by activists.
