Jens Stoltenberg announced the news on Tuesday evening, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
"I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO," Stoltenberg told the media on the sidelines of a key NATO summit in Madrid, Spain.
"Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey's concerns, including around arms exports and the fight against terrorism," he added.
Stoltenberg went on to say: “No ally has suffered more brutal terrorist attacks than Turkey, including from the terrorist group PKK. The governments of Turkey, Finland and Sweden have agreed to enhance their cooperation on counter-terrorism.”
He added: “As NATO allies, Finland and Sweden commit to fully support Turkey against threats to its national security. This includes further amending their domestic legislation, cracking down on PKK activities, and entering into an agreement with Turkey on extradition.”
“In light of the progress we have made together, Turkey has agreed to support Finland and Sweden joining NATO,” Stoltenberg stated.
Stoltenberg said that on Wednesday NATO leaders would formally invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO.
Poland welcomes Turkey’s support for Finland’s and Sweden’s bids to join NATO
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz welcomed Tuesday’s developments.
He said in a tweet: “Partners from Finland and Sweden will become allies. An important decision. It raises the level of security not only in the Baltic Sea region, but in the whole Euro-Atlantic area.”
Przydacz added: “NATO’s open door policy must continue.”
Madrid summit
The Madrid summit, which runs until Thursday, features heads of state and government from NATO’s 30 member countries, as well as representatives from Australia, Finland, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, the European Council and the European Commission, according to officials.
It comes as the Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth month.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, nato.int