Estonian formin calls on Turkey to ratify accession of Finland, Sweden to NATO

TALLINN – Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu called on Turkey to ratify the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO at a meeting with the Turkish-Estonian friendship group of the Turkish parliament on Wednesday.

"I expressed the hope that Turkey will soon be able to ratify the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, because this will strengthen the security of our region and the entire Euro-Atlantic area," Reinsalu said.

The minister also commended Turkey for its contribution to the fight against terrorism and stressed the importance of continued cooperation in this field.

Reinsalu also discussed the security situation in Europe, Russia's war in Ukraine and the development of bilateral relations with Turkey with the representatives of the Turkish parliament. The meeting focused on Russia's war in Ukraine and raising the price of aggression for Russia.

"We must continue with sanctions on Russia," Reinsalu stressed in a conversation with Yusuf Yilmaz, chairman of the Turkish-Estonian friendship group of the Turkish parliament, and called on NATO allies to increase defense aid to Ukraine.

Other topics discussed included the possibilities of developing bilateral relations, especially in the economic field, and the situation in the eastern Mediterranean.