Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (R) and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto attend a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 17, 2022. (Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden/Handout via Xinhua)
BRUSSELS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Finland and Sweden formally submitted their applications to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday.
After accepting the applications by the Finnish and Swedish ambassadors to NATO at its headquarters, Stoltenberg said the move was a "historic step" in a "critical moment" for European security.
Finland and Sweden jointly set the course for NATO membership amid security uncertainties following the breakout of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Finland's national legislature voted 188-8 on Tuesday to approve a bid for NATO membership, the same day as Sweden's foreign minister signed her country's application.
The accession requires the unanimous consent of all 30 NATO allies.
However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he could not agree to the accession of Finland and Sweden, which have levied sanctions on Turkey.
Ankara has accused both nations of supporting "terrorist organizations," referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Kurdish militia People's Defence Units in Syria. ■