BREAKING NEWS: Sweden and Finland are CLEARED to join NATO after negotiations with Turkey and ahead of Biden’s meeting with Erdogan on Wednesday

• The leaders of Turkey, Sweden and Finland have signed a trilateral agreement that will clear the way for the two Nordic states to join NATO
• NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the deal 
• ‘I am pleased to announce we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO,’ Stoltenberg said 
• Turkey had objected to Finland and Sweden’s stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists
• Biden meeting with Turkish president on Wednesday 

The leaders of Turkey, Sweden and Finland have signed a trilateral agreement that will clear the way for the two Nordic states to join NATO and clearing objections from Istanbul over the application.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the deal on Tuesday evening ahead of President Joe Biden’s scheduled meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

‘I am pleased to announce we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO,’ Stoltenberg said.

‘Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey’s concerns, including around arms exports and the fight against terrorism,’ he added.

Details will be worked out over then next could of days. 

But Turkey said it had ‘got what it wanted’ including ‘full cooperation… in the fight against’ the rebel groups. 

‘Our joint memorandum underscores the commitment of Finland, Sweden and Türkiye to extend their full support against threats to each other’s security,’ Finish President Sauli Niinistö said in a statement.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, third left, shakes hands with Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, right, next to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, and Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto, second right, after signing a memorandum in which Turkey agrees to Finland and Sweden’s membership in NATO; NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (left) looks on

President Joe Biden will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday

Finland and Sweden will bring with them almost 1million troops, including reserves, along with a huge amount of artillery, jets and submarines

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted Finland and Sweden to launch NATO applications

Erdogan objected to Finland and Sweden’s application to join because he wants them to change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. 

Biden spoke with Erdogan on Tuesday morning.

Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said earlier Tuesday that the U.S. believes Finland and Sweden have taken ‘significant steps forward in terms of addressing Turkey’s concerns. We also believe and are confident that ultimately they will become members of the alliance and that Turkey’s concerns will be fully addressed in terms of a bilateral meeting.’

Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to apply to join NATO.

It’s the biggest expansion of the alliance since former Soviet bloc countries joined the group in 1999. 

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