Social media app TikTok has been officially banned by NATO from the devices it provides to its staffers, citing security concerns, as per two NATO officials who were familiar with the matter.

A note was sent to the staff by NATO officials on Friday announcing the ban on TikTok, the officials confirmed. Through the note the ban was made official, however, TikTok was not much usable on the devices issued by NATO before anyways, said the official, because of internal tech restrictions.

“Cyber security is a top priority for NATO. NATO has robust requirements for determining applications for official business use. TikTok is not accessible on NATO devices,” said a senior NATO official.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-rand-paul-blocks-tiktok-ban-asks-if-us-is-going-to-be-just-like-china-and-block-free-speech-577130">Republican Rand Paul blocks TikTok ban, asks if US is 'going to be just like China' and block free speech</a>

NATO has become the latest governmental body which has banned the application over concerns that data of TikTok users can be accessed by the Chinese government through its Chinese parent company, Bytedance.&nbsp;

The application has already been banned by the UK, US, European Parliament, Norway and other nations from government-issued devices.

Earlier this month, TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew emphasised to US lawmakers that they are completely independent of China and stated that he has “seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data; they have never asked us, we have not provided it".&nbsp;

He stated that TikTok is shifting its data into the United States which will be stored on US soil by Oracle, the American company.

WATCH | TikTok in the US: TikTok's attempts to reassure government, security concerns surrounding the app

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiktok-in-the-us-tiktoks-attempts-to-reassure-government-security-concerns-surrounding-the-app-545724/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“So the risk would be similar to any government going to an American company, asking for data,” he stated.

However, western governments remain sceptical. TikTok should be “ended one way or another,” said &nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month in a separate hearing while addressing Congress on the same day Chew was testifying. “Clearly, we, the administration and others are seized with the challenge that it poses and is taking action to address it," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

Social media app TikTok has been officially banned by NATO from the devices it provides to its staffers, citing security concerns, as per two NATO officials who were familiar with the matter.

Social media app TikTok has been officially banned by NATO from the devices it provides to its staffers, citing security concerns, as per two NATO officials who were familiar with the matter. A note was sent to the staff by NATO officials on Friday announcing the ban on TikTok, the officials confirmed. Through the note the ban was made official, however, TikTok was not much usable on the devices issued by NATO before anyways, said the official, because of internal tech restrictions. “Cyber security is a top priority for NATO. NATO has robust requirements for determining applications for official business use. TikTok is not accessible on NATO devices,” said a senior NATO official. ALSO READ | Republican Rand Paul blocks TikTok ban, asks if US is 'going to be just like China' and block free speech NATO has become the latest governmental body which has banned the application over concerns that data of TikTok users can be accessed by the Chinese government through its Chinese parent company, Bytedance. The application has already been banned by the UK, US, European Parliament, Norway and other nations from government-issued devices. Earlier this month, TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew emphasised to US lawmakers that they are completely independent of China and stated that he has “seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data; they have never asked us, we have not provided it". He stated that TikTok is shifting its data into the United States which will be stored on US soil by Oracle, the American company. WATCH | TikTok in the US: TikTok's attempts to reassure government, security concerns surrounding the app “So the risk would be similar to any government going to an American company, asking for data,” he stated. However, western governments remain sceptical. TikTok should be “ended one way or another,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month in a separate hearing while addressing Congress on the same day Chew was testifying. “Clearly, we, the administration and others are seized with the challenge that it poses and is taking action to address it," he added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NATO officially bans TikTok on devices of its staff

Russian envoy to Belarus said on Sunday (April 2) that Russia will place its tactical nuclear weapons close to western borders of Belarus. Such a move is likely to escalate Moscow's standoff with the West as the nukes would be stationed at NASA's threshold. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already declared (March 26) that Russia would station tactical weapons in Belarus.

Russia and Belarus, the two Slav neighbours, are formally part of a "union state". Talks between the two countries have gone on for years for deeper integration. The process has gained pace after Belarus allowed Russian troops to enter Ukraine's territory last year.

Watch | Russia to place nuclear weapons near Belarus' border with NATO

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-to-place-nuclear-weapons-near-belarus-border-with-nato-578552/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The weapons "will be moved to the western border of our union state and will increase the possibilities to ensure security," Russian ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, told Belarusian state television.

"This will be done despite the noise in Europe and the United States."

The Russian envoy didn't fully specify where the weapons will be stationed. He, however, confirmed that a storage facility will be completed by July 1. It will then be moves to the West of Belarus.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/finland-set-to-become-31st-nato-member-on-tuesday-secretary-general-stoltenberg-says-578596">Finland set to become 31st NATO member on Tuesday, Secretary General Stoltenberg says</a> 
 
Belarus borders to the north with Lithuania and Latvia and to west with Poland, all part of NATO's Eastern flank that has been bolstered with additional troops and military equipment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Russian envoy to Belarus said on Sunday (April 2) that Russia will place its tactical nuclear weapons close to western borders of Belarus. Such a move is likely to escalate Moscow's standoff with the West as the nukes would be stationed at NASA's threshold.

Russian envoy to Belarus said on Sunday (April 2) that Russia will place its tactical nuclear weapons close to western borders of Belarus. Such a move is likely to escalate Moscow's standoff with the West as the nukes would be stationed at NASA's threshold. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already declared (March 26) that Russia would station tactical weapons in Belarus. Russia and Belarus, the two Slav neighbours, are formally part of a "union state". Talks between the two countries have gone on for years for deeper integration. The process has gained pace after Belarus allowed Russian troops to enter Ukraine's territory last year. Watch | Russia to place nuclear weapons near Belarus' border with NATO × The weapons "will be moved to the western border of our union state and will increase the possibilities to ensure security," Russian ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, told Belarusian state television. "This will be done despite the noise in Europe and the United States." The Russian envoy didn't fully specify where the weapons will be stationed. He, however, confirmed that a storage facility will be completed by July 1. It will then be moves to the West of Belarus. Also Read | Finland set to become 31st NATO member on Tuesday, Secretary General Stoltenberg says Belarus borders to the north with Lithuania and Latvia and to west with Poland, all part of NATO's Eastern flank that has been bolstered with additional troops and military equipment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russia to place tactical nukes near Belarus border with NATO countries: Envoy

The war in Ukraine is raging for over 400 days now. The war time President Zelensky keeps saying that Russia won't stop at Ukraine. While that seems a remote possibility at the moment. But before February, 2022, an invasion of Ukraine too looked remote. Given the heightened tensions, NATO troops are bolstering its defences.

NATO conducts military exercises with an eye on Russia | WION Pulse

In the first such public remarks by a senior official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) grouping, Julianne Smith, the United States Permanent Representative to NATO has said that the alliance is "open to more engagement" with India. In a press briefing with journalists, Smith confirmed that "informal exchanges" have taken place between some NATO and Indian officials on the sidelines of the annual Raisina Dialogue in Delhi.

"There have been some exchanges on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue, which is a start and has opened up the conversation a little bit," Smith said. She explained, "Message that has already been sent back to India is that the NATO alliance certainly is open to more engagement with India, should that country take an interest in pursuing that."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/openais-chatgpt-blocked-in-italy-reports-577685">OpenAI’s ChatGPT blocked in Italy over alleged privacy violations</a>

NATO currently has 40 different partners around the world. The NATO foreign ministerial meeting will take place in Brussels from April 4-5, and it has invited Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan to attend it. The four countries of the Indo Pacific region have formal partnerships with the mega alliance.&nbsp;

Asked about an invitation to India to attend these meetings and become a member of the grouping, Julianne Smith said, "In terms of the future with India, again, I think NATO's door is open in terms of engagement. Should India be interested, but we would not want to, at this stage, invite them to a NATO ministerial, until we knew more about their interest in engaging the Alliance more broadly."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-top-10-corrupt-countries-in-the-world-577675">Top 10 corrupt countries in the world</a>

Smith also acknowledged that India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Watch | Will Ben Stokes be CSK's impact player?&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/will-ben-stokes-be-csks-impact-player-wion-sports-extra-577698/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The remarks come at a time when major geopolitical changes have been seen in Europe and Indo-Pacific region amid the Russia Ukraine conflict and Chinese aggressive actions from Asean to India. Moscow has blamed the current Ukraine conflict on expansion of NATO, something that has been dismissed by the member countries of the alliance. 
 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

In the first such public remarks by a senior official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) grouping, Julianne Smith, the United States Permanent Representative to NATO has said that the alliance is "open to more engagement" with India.

In the first such public remarks by a senior official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) grouping, Julianne Smith, the United States Permanent Representative to NATO has said that the alliance is "open to more engagement" with India. In a press briefing with journalists, Smith confirmed that "informal exchanges" have taken place between some NATO and Indian officials on the sidelines of the annual Raisina Dialogue in Delhi. "There have been some exchanges on the margins of the Raisina Dialogue, which is a start and has opened up the conversation a little bit," Smith said. She explained, "Message that has already been sent back to India is that the NATO alliance certainly is open to more engagement with India, should that country take an interest in pursuing that." Also Read | OpenAI’s ChatGPT blocked in Italy over alleged privacy violations NATO currently has 40 different partners around the world. The NATO foreign ministerial meeting will take place in Brussels from April 4-5, and it has invited Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan to attend it. The four countries of the Indo Pacific region have formal partnerships with the mega alliance. Asked about an invitation to India to attend these meetings and become a member of the grouping, Julianne Smith said, "In terms of the future with India, again, I think NATO's door is open in terms of engagement. Should India be interested, but we would not want to, at this stage, invite them to a NATO ministerial, until we knew more about their interest in engaging the Alliance more broadly." Also Read | Top 10 corrupt countries in the world Smith also acknowledged that India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Watch | Will Ben Stokes be CSK's impact player? × The remarks come at a time when major geopolitical changes have been seen in Europe and Indo-Pacific region amid the Russia Ukraine conflict and Chinese aggressive actions from Asean to India. Moscow has blamed the current Ukraine conflict on expansion of NATO, something that has been dismissed by the member countries of the alliance. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NATO open to more engagement with India, says US representative Julianne Smith

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news, top headlines and international breakings from all across the globe, stay tuned with Gravitas for more!

Gravitas Global Headlines: Turkish parliament ratifies Finland's NATO membership

The India's clout globally is on the rise, there are no two ways about it. The nations across the globe see India as a major powerhouse and this is not only evident but New Delhi's responsible role as the chair of global bodies such as G20 and SCO.

From NATO to ASEAN, India key to global blocs; World's most powerful want India on their side | WION

Turkey’s parliament voted unanimously to formally approve Finland’s membership to NATO on Thursday. Finland and Sweden both applied to NATO in May 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. NATO membership requires the unanimous consent of all member nations. Finland passed its last test in the membership process with Ankara's decision late on Thursday.

Turkey formally approves Finland’s NATO membership

Romania’s navy led multinational military drills in the Black Sea region brought together US and NATO troops as the 30-nation alliance looks to boost security on its southeastern flank amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

NATO’s Marine forces in action: US, South Korea stage largest ambitious landing

Turkey on Thursday became the last NATO member to ratify Finland's membership of the US-led defence alliance. With this, Finland is well on its way to becoming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) 31st member nation. "This evening, we are keeping the promises we made to Finland," announced ruling party lawmaker Akif Cagatay Kilic moments before the vote in which Turkish lawmakers unanimously backed Finland's accession to the international organisation. The parliament's approval as per AFP comes two weeks after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publically gave his blessing to the Nordic country's bid.

Watch |&nbsp;Finland's president in Turkey for talks on NATO bid

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/finlands-president-in-turkey-for-talks-on-nato-bid-573097/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Finland now needs to complete a few technical steps before it officially becomes the newest member of the world's most powerful military bloc. The process as per officials should be completed as early as next week.

The nation and its neighbour Sweden, following Russia's launch of a 'special military operation' against Ukraine, decided last May to end their decades of non-alignment and join the multi-member bloc.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hungary-parliament-backs-finlands-nato-accession-576377">Hungary parliament backs Finland's NATO accession</a>

Their applications were accepted at the alliance summit last June, but the bids still needed to be ratified by all the member nation's parliaments.&nbsp;

According to AFP, the process was stalled due to Hungary and Turkey. The Hungarian Parliament ratified Finland's membership on Monday (March 27).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swedens-nato-membership-bid-gets-another-jolt-after-quran-burning-incident-outraged-turkey-555120">'Won't support Sweden's NATO membership', says Turkish President Erdogan</a>

Finland and Sweden, who applied for membership together, had to break up their bids to avoid delay to both their bids. Owing to long-standing disputes, Turkish President Erdogan had reportedly put up stiff resistance to Sweden's candidacy. However, the nation still hopes to join the military alliance in time for the Vilnius summit scheduled for July.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Turkey on Thursday became the last NATO member to ratify Finland's membership of the US-led defence alliance. With this, Finland is well on its way to becoming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) 31st member nation.

Turkey on Thursday became the last NATO member to ratify Finland's membership of the US-led defence alliance. With this, Finland is well on its way to becoming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) 31st member nation. "This evening, we are keeping the promises we made to Finland," announced ruling party lawmaker Akif Cagatay Kilic moments before the vote in which Turkish lawmakers unanimously backed Finland's accession to the international organisation. The parliament's approval as per AFP comes two weeks after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publically gave his blessing to the Nordic country's bid. Watch | Finland's president in Turkey for talks on NATO bid Finland now needs to complete a few technical steps before it officially becomes the newest member of the world's most powerful military bloc. The process as per officials should be completed as early as next week. The nation and its neighbour Sweden, following Russia's launch of a 'special military operation' against Ukraine, decided last May to end their decades of non-alignment and join the multi-member bloc. Also read | Hungary parliament backs Finland's NATO accession Their applications were accepted at the alliance summit last June, but the bids still needed to be ratified by all the member nation's parliaments. According to AFP, the process was stalled due to Hungary and Turkey. The Hungarian Parliament ratified Finland's membership on Monday (March 27). Also read | 'Won't support Sweden's NATO membership', says Turkish President Erdogan Finland and Sweden, who applied for membership together, had to break up their bids to avoid delay to both their bids. Owing to long-standing disputes, Turkish President Erdogan had reportedly put up stiff resistance to Sweden's candidacy. However, the nation still hopes to join the military alliance in time for the Vilnius summit scheduled for July. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkey backs Finland's NATO membership, becoming last bloc member to ratify

The NATO membership of Finland was unanimously approved by the Turkish parliament on Thursday (March 30), effectively allowing Helsinki to join the military alliance while keeping Sweden out.&nbsp;Finland can now formally join NATO in a couple of days.

“All 30 NATO members have now ratified Finland’s membership,” Finnish President Sauli Niinistö&nbsp;tweeted. “I want to thank every one of them for their trust and support. Finland will be a strong and capable Ally, committed to the security of the Alliance,” he said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/bK15QpZKGX">pic.twitter.com/bK15QpZKGX</a>
— Sauli Niinistö (@niinisto) <a href="https://twitter.com/niinisto/status/1641547055414886401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The role of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is prominent as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues. Experts have claimed that Ukraine's persistence on wanting to join the military alliance was the cause of the war&nbsp;that Vladimir Putin started in February 2022.

We explain the basic&nbsp;tenets of NATO, as well as how the inclusion of Finland can&nbsp;reshape the group.

<h2>Firstly, Why Finland and Sweden want to join the alliance?</h2>

The two nations have a long history of maintaining their neutrality and avoiding military alliances. However, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February 2022, this stance changed.&nbsp;

Experts claim that Vladimir Putin's activities have undermined a long-standing sense of stability in northern Europe, making countries like Sweden and Finland feel vulnerable, as reported by AFP.&nbsp;

As soon as Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24, former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb declared that his country's membership in the alliance was a "done deal."&nbsp;

Finland had been invaded by the Soviets in late 1939. Although being vastly outnumbered, the Finnish army put up a valiant fight for more than three months. They managed to evade occupation but ultimately lost 10 per cent&nbsp;of their area.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-buying-weapons-from-north-korea-in-exchange-for-food-claims-us-577670">Russia buying weapons from North Korea in exchange for food, claims US</a>

As there have been numerous reports of Russian military aircraft violating Swedish airspace, Sweden has likewise felt at danger.

Only 28 per cent&nbsp;of Sweden's population indicated in April 2014 that they would be willing to join the alliance, according to <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/660842/survey-on-perception-of-nato-membership-in-sweden/">data compiled by Statista</a>. When the question was reposed in February 2022, the percentage increased to 41 per cent&nbsp;in favour of Sweden joining NATO. This percentage rose to 64 per cent&nbsp;in July 2022.&nbsp;

Similar to Finland, there was a shift in opinion about joining NATO. Only 24 per cent&nbsp;of the populace wants the nation to join the alliance in October 2021. Nevertheless, this increased to 76 per cent&nbsp;in May 2022.

Sweden and Finland were invited by all NATO partners in June of last year, and the ratification process has been proceeding ever since. While Sweden's bid to join the alliance is still encountering difficulties, Finland has received approval from all 30 countries, with Turkey being the latest to do so.

<h2>What would Finland's and Sweden's&nbsp;inclusion mean for NATO?</h2>

With Finland's inclusion, NATO's border with Russia will grow from its current 6 per cent&nbsp;land perimeter to its entire length. That would provide the alliance access to Finland's well-trained military, which currently employs weaponry that are compatible with the alliance, allowing it to increase its surveillance of Russia's western flank.

Although,&nbsp;Russia is now mired in its conflict in Ukraine, it still poses a small threat, and allies shouldn't underestimate Moscow's capacity to rebuild its military after the conflict, reported The Japan Times.&nbsp;

Additionally, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three of the EU's Baltic countries who are frequently considered prospective targets of Russian attack, will be protected by the bloc's increased security of the region surrounding the Baltic Sea as a result of Finland's entry.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Turkey formally approves Finland’s NATO membership

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/turkey-formally-approves-finlands-nato-membership-577550/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It adds a second Arctic nation to the alliance, one whose military has been trained for cold weather, which is a valuable asset at a time when the High North is becoming more strategically significant due to China's and Russia's increased presence there.&nbsp;

Since the two Nordic countries submitted their applications in May of last year, Finland's ratification represents one of the fastest memberships in NATO history. It took two years for North Macedonia to become the last member of the alliance.

<h2>What does NATO signify and who are part of it?</h2>

The United States,&nbsp;United Kingdom, Canada, and France were among the 12 nations that established NATO in 1949. The goal of this bloc was to protect one another from the former Soviet Union. It was the first military alliance between the United States and a non-Western country.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Map showing the member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) <a href="https://t.co/tU2T6klTe4">pic.twitter.com/tU2T6klTe4</a>
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1480500919477411847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The core idea of collective defence as outlined in Article 5 binds group members, who have increased from 12 at the start to 30 at the most recent count. It still serves as a distinctive and enduring tenet that unites its members, committing them to defend one another and fostering a feeling of unity within the Alliance.

At present,&nbsp;NATO has 30 members. They are made up of 12 founding members: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Greece, Türkiye, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

The NATO membership of Finland was unanimously approved by the Turkish parliament on Thursday (March 30), effectively allowing Helsinki to join the military alliance while keeping Sweden out.

The NATO membership of Finland was unanimously approved by the Turkish parliament on Thursday (March 30), effectively allowing Helsinki to join the military alliance while keeping Sweden out. Finland can now formally join NATO in a couple of days. “All 30 NATO members have now ratified Finland’s membership,” Finnish President Sauli Niinistö tweeted. “I want to thank every one of them for their trust and support. Finland will be a strong and capable Ally, committed to the security of the Alliance,” he said. pic.twitter.com/bK15QpZKGX — Sauli Niinistö (@niinisto) March 30, 2023 × The role of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is prominent as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues. Experts have claimed that Ukraine's persistence on wanting to join the military alliance was the cause of the war that Vladimir Putin started in February 2022. We explain the basic tenets of NATO, as well as how the inclusion of Finland can reshape the group. Firstly, Why Finland and Sweden want to join the alliance? The two nations have a long history of maintaining their neutrality and avoiding military alliances. However, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February 2022, this stance changed. Experts claim that Vladimir Putin's activities have undermined a long-standing sense of stability in northern Europe, making countries like Sweden and Finland feel vulnerable, as reported by AFP. As soon as Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24, former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb declared that his country's membership in the alliance was a "done deal." Finland had been invaded by the Soviets in late 1939. Although being vastly outnumbered, the Finnish army put up a valiant fight for more than three months. They managed to evade occupation but ultimately lost 10 per cent of their area. ALSO READ | Russia buying weapons from North Korea in exchange for food, claims US As there have been numerous reports of Russian military aircraft violating Swedish airspace, Sweden has likewise felt at danger. Only 28 per cent of Sweden's population indicated in April 2014 that they would be willing to join the alliance, according to data compiled by Statista. When the question was reposed in February 2022, the percentage increased to 41 per cent in favour of Sweden joining NATO. This percentage rose to 64 per cent in July 2022. Similar to Finland, there was a shift in opinion about joining NATO. Only 24 per cent of the populace wants the nation to join the alliance in October 2021. Nevertheless, this increased to 76 per cent in May 2022. Sweden and Finland were invited by all NATO partners in June of last year, and the ratification process has been proceeding ever since. While Sweden's bid to join the alliance is still encountering difficulties, Finland has received approval from all 30 countries, with Turkey being the latest to do so. What would Finland's and Sweden's inclusion mean for NATO? With Finland's inclusion, NATO's border with Russia will grow from its current 6 per cent land perimeter to its entire length. That would provide the alliance access to Finland's well-trained military, which currently employs weaponry that are compatible with the alliance, allowing it to increase its surveillance of Russia's western flank. Although, Russia is now mired in its conflict in Ukraine, it still poses a small threat, and allies shouldn't underestimate Moscow's capacity to rebuild its military after the conflict, reported The Japan Times. Additionally, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three of the EU's Baltic countries who are frequently considered prospective targets of Russian attack, will be protected by the bloc's increased security of the region surrounding the Baltic Sea as a result of Finland's entry. ALSO WATCH | Turkey formally approves Finland’s NATO membership It adds a second Arctic nation to the alliance, one whose military has been trained for cold weather, which is a valuable asset at a time when the High North is becoming more strategically significant due to China's and Russia's increased presence there. Since the two Nordic countries submitted their applications in May of last year, Finland's ratification represents one of the fastest memberships in NATO history. It took two years for North Macedonia to become the last member of the alliance. What does NATO signify and who are part of it? The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and France were among the 12 nations that established NATO in 1949. The goal of this bloc was to protect one another from the former Soviet Union. It was the first military alliance between the United States and a non-Western country. Map showing the member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) pic.twitter.com/tU2T6klTe4 — AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 10, 2022 × The core idea of collective defence as outlined in Article 5 binds group members, who have increased from 12 at the start to 30 at the most recent count. It still serves as a distinctive and enduring tenet that unites its members, committing them to defend one another and fostering a feeling of unity within the Alliance. At present, NATO has 30 members. They are made up of 12 founding members: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Greece, Türkiye, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: From neutral to NATO, what does Finland's entry mean for the military alliance?

Russia is set to deploy its tactical nuclear weapons in its neighboring country Belarus. President Vladimir Putin made this announcement, as per Russian media reports, this will be the first time since the mid-1990s that Moscow would be stationed in such arms outside its territory. NATO has condemned Putin's decision.

NATO on Russia's move: Dangerous and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric

NATO has condemned President Vladimir Putin's decision to deploy its tactical nuclear weapons in its neighboring country Belarus. Putin made this announcement, as per Russian media reports, this will be the first time since the mid-1990s that Moscow would be stationed in such arms outside its territory.

NATO has condemned Vladimir Putin's decision to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus | Details

The Hungarian parliament approved a bill on Monday (March 27) to allow Finland to join The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) once its application has been ratified by all 30 members of the alliance. The approval ends months of foot-dragging by the ruling Fidesz party on the matter.&nbsp;

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin tweeted after the vote, she said: "Thank you for the decision with clear numbers!"&nbsp;

With 182 votes versus six against, a large majority of lawmakers approved the accession of the Nordic country into the military alliance.&nbsp;

The vote means that 29 out of 30 NATO member state parliaments have ratified Finland's accession. The last will be Turkey's assembly, which is expected to also give Helsinki the nod next month.

Initially, Finland aimed to join together with fellow NATO aspirant Sweden, a Nordic power facing a litany of disputes with Turkey that ultimately sunk its chance to join the bloc before an alliance summit in Vilnius in July.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas | Ukraine, Russia war: Putin to deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-ukraine-russia-war-putin-to-deploy-nuclear-weapons-to-belarus-576371/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"The NATO membership of Finland and Sweden will strengthen the security of the whole Alliance. It is in everyone's interest that Sweden also becomes a member of NATO before the Vilnius Summit," said Marin.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that Turkey had decided on ratifying Helsinki's NATO bid. The claim came after reports emerged that Ankara's parliament will "highly likely" ratify Finland's NATO accession bid before mid-April.&nbsp;

After Russia began the invasion of Ukraine last year in February, Sweden and Finland applied to join the trans-Atlantic defence pact. However, both nations faced unexpected hurdles. To join NATO, all 30 members have to ratify any membership bids.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Hungarian parliament approved a bill on Monday (March 27) to allow Finland to join The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) once its application has been ratified by all 30 members of the alliance.

The Hungarian parliament approved a bill on Monday (March 27) to allow Finland to join The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) once its application has been ratified by all 30 members of the alliance. The approval ends months of foot-dragging by the ruling Fidesz party on the matter. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin tweeted after the vote, she said: "Thank you for the decision with clear numbers!" With 182 votes versus six against, a large majority of lawmakers approved the accession of the Nordic country into the military alliance. The vote means that 29 out of 30 NATO member state parliaments have ratified Finland's accession. The last will be Turkey's assembly, which is expected to also give Helsinki the nod next month. Initially, Finland aimed to join together with fellow NATO aspirant Sweden, a Nordic power facing a litany of disputes with Turkey that ultimately sunk its chance to join the bloc before an alliance summit in Vilnius in July. WATCH | Gravitas | Ukraine, Russia war: Putin to deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus × "The NATO membership of Finland and Sweden will strengthen the security of the whole Alliance. It is in everyone's interest that Sweden also becomes a member of NATO before the Vilnius Summit," said Marin. Earlier this month, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that Turkey had decided on ratifying Helsinki's NATO bid. The claim came after reports emerged that Ankara's parliament will "highly likely" ratify Finland's NATO accession bid before mid-April. After Russia began the invasion of Ukraine last year in February, Sweden and Finland applied to join the trans-Atlantic defence pact. However, both nations faced unexpected hurdles. To join NATO, all 30 members have to ratify any membership bids. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Hungary parliament backs Finland's NATO accession

Russia is set to deploy its tactical nuclear weapons in in its neighbouring country Belarus. President Vladimir Putin made this announcement, as per Russian media reports, this will be the first time since mid-1990s that Moscow would be stationed in such arms outside its territory. NATO has condemns Putin's decision.

Russia to station nuclear weapons in Belarus; NATO condemns Putin's dangerous rhetoric

NATO on Sunday backfired on Russia's nuclear weapons rhetoric calling it "dangerous and irresponsible.” This comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would station tactical nuclear weapons inside the territory of its ally Belarus.

“NATO is vigilant, and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own,” reported Reuters quoting a spokesperson for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/walmart-lays-off-hundreds-of-us-employees-gives-them-90-days-to-find-job-at-its-other-facilities-575868">Walmart lays off hundreds of US employees, gives them 90 days to find job at its other facilities</a>

“Russia’s reference to NATO’s nuclear sharing is totally misleading. NATO allies act with full respect of their international commitments. Russia has consistently broken its arms control commitments, most recently suspending its participation in the New START Treaty.”

The agreement between Minsk and Moscow is a historic one since the mid-1990s as Russia has not been stationing such tactical nuclear weapons outside its own boundaries.&nbsp;

"There is nothing unusual here either: the United States has been doing this for decades. They have long placed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allies," Putin said while substantiating the agreement it reached with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, reported AFP.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/what-verified-twitter-account-without-blue-checkmark-musks-platform-steps-up-to-avoid-shame-trolling-575898">Verified Twitter account without Blue checkmark? Musk's platform steps up to avoid shame, trolling</a>

Putin made it clear that his action does not violate the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the cornerstone of international efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.

"We agreed that we will do the same - without violating our obligations, I emphasize, without violating our international obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons."

Watch | Twitter CEO Elon Musk to give stocks to employees at $20 dollar valuation

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/twitter-ceo-elon-musk-to-give-stocks-to-employees-at-20-dollar-valuation-575855/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Putin's declaration was met with unanimous condemnation from the US and Ukraine. According to Reuters news agency, a senior US administration official stated that Moscow and Minsk had discussed such an agreement during the previous year and added that there were no indications Russia wanted to deploy its nuclear weapons.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky's senior security advisor also criticised Russian intentions to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. He claimed that taking such action would destabilise Belarus. He claimed Russia had taken Belarus "hostage."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

NATO on Sunday backfired on Russia's nuclear weapons rhetoric calling it "dangerous and irresponsible.” This comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would station tactical nuclear weapons inside the territory of its ally Belarus.

NATO on Sunday backfired on Russia's nuclear weapons rhetoric calling it "dangerous and irresponsible.” This comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would station tactical nuclear weapons inside the territory of its ally Belarus. “NATO is vigilant, and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own,” reported Reuters quoting a spokesperson for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Also Read | Walmart lays off hundreds of US employees, gives them 90 days to find job at its other facilities “Russia’s reference to NATO’s nuclear sharing is totally misleading. NATO allies act with full respect of their international commitments. Russia has consistently broken its arms control commitments, most recently suspending its participation in the New START Treaty.” The agreement between Minsk and Moscow is a historic one since the mid-1990s as Russia has not been stationing such tactical nuclear weapons outside its own boundaries. "There is nothing unusual here either: the United States has been doing this for decades. They have long placed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allies," Putin said while substantiating the agreement it reached with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, reported AFP. Also Read | Verified Twitter account without Blue checkmark? Musk's platform steps up to avoid shame, trolling Putin made it clear that his action does not violate the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the cornerstone of international efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. "We agreed that we will do the same - without violating our obligations, I emphasize, without violating our international obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons." Watch | Twitter CEO Elon Musk to give stocks to employees at $20 dollar valuation × Putin's declaration was met with unanimous condemnation from the US and Ukraine. According to Reuters news agency, a senior US administration official stated that Moscow and Minsk had discussed such an agreement during the previous year and added that there were no indications Russia wanted to deploy its nuclear weapons. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky's senior security advisor also criticised Russian intentions to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. He claimed that taking such action would destabilise Belarus. He claimed Russia had taken Belarus "hostage." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia's nuclear weapons plans in Belarus 'dangerous and irresponsible': NATO

Air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark said on Friday (March 25) that they signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defence aimed at countering the rising threat from Russia. The air force commanders had first discussed the closer cooperation at a meeting in Sweden in November last year.&nbsp;

“The ultimate goal is to be able to operate seamlessly together as one force by developing a Nordic concept for joint air operations based on already known NATO methodology,” Denmark's air force said in a statement.&nbsp;

Speaking to the news agency Reuters, Major General Jan Dam, the commander of the Danish air force, said that the move to integrate the air forces of the Nordic countries was triggered by Russia's offensive in Ukraine in February last year. Major General Dam added that the combined fleet could be compared to a large European country.&nbsp;

Reuters reported on Friday that Sweden has over 90 Gripens jets; Norway has 57 F-16 fighter jets and 37 F-35 fighter jets with 15 more of the latter on order, and Finland has 62 F/A-18 Hornet jets and 64 F-35s on order. Denmark, meanwhile, has 58 F-16s and 27 F-35s on order.&nbsp;

However, it was unclear how many of these aircraft were operational.&nbsp;

The signing at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany last week was attended by NATO's Air Command chief General James Hecker, who also oversees the US Air Force in the region, the news agency reported.&nbsp;

Norway and Denmark are already members of NATO. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO last year and Finland is expected to join the inter-governmental military alliance within weeks. Sweden, on the other hand, is facing a delay due to resistance from Turkey and Hungary.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark said on Friday (March 25) that they signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defence aimed at countering the rising threat from Russia.

Air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark said on Friday (March 25) that they signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defence aimed at countering the rising threat from Russia. The air force commanders had first discussed the closer cooperation at a meeting in Sweden in November last year. “The ultimate goal is to be able to operate seamlessly together as one force by developing a Nordic concept for joint air operations based on already known NATO methodology,” Denmark's air force said in a statement. Speaking to the news agency Reuters, Major General Jan Dam, the commander of the Danish air force, said that the move to integrate the air forces of the Nordic countries was triggered by Russia's offensive in Ukraine in February last year. Major General Dam added that the combined fleet could be compared to a large European country. Reuters reported on Friday that Sweden has over 90 Gripens jets; Norway has 57 F-16 fighter jets and 37 F-35 fighter jets with 15 more of the latter on order, and Finland has 62 F/A-18 Hornet jets and 64 F-35s on order. Denmark, meanwhile, has 58 F-16s and 27 F-35s on order. However, it was unclear how many of these aircraft were operational. The signing at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany last week was attended by NATO's Air Command chief General James Hecker, who also oversees the US Air Force in the region, the news agency reported. Norway and Denmark are already members of NATO. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO last year and Finland is expected to join the inter-governmental military alliance within weeks. Sweden, on the other hand, is facing a delay due to resistance from Turkey and Hungary. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Nordic nations plan joint air defence to counter rising threat from Russia

NATO troops are facing test of readiness in the multinational battle group military exercise which is being held in Slovakia. It is the key protector of NATO's eastern flank. The Slovak shield drills are being conducted in the South of the country.

NATO troops face test of readiness; 2,000 troops take part in Slovak shield drills

China and Russia on Tuesday hailed a "new era" in their relationship. Putting on a united front against the West, the allies expressed "great concern" over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) growing presence in Asia and accused the United States of 'undermining' global security. 'Dear friends' Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday, held four and a half hours of talks. The two leaders, as per AFP, agreed to deepen the partnership they share.

Watch |&nbsp;‘Dear friends’ Xi &amp; Putin meet in Moscow

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/dear-friends-xi-putin-meet-in-moscow-574465/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Putin, as per the report, also accused the West of rejecting Beijing's proposals to end the Ukraine conflict. The Russian leader said that he was open to talks on Ukraine. He also praised China's 12-point position paper on the conflict. He also accused Kyiv of being unwilling to implement China's proposals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-in-moscow-chinese-president-holds-talks-with-putin-at-kremlin-discusses-ukraine-574391">Putin holds talks with Chinese President Xi at Kremlin, hails 'special' Russia-China ties</a>

"Many of the provisions of the peace plan put forward by China... can be taken as the basis for a peaceful settlement when Kyiv and the West will be ready for it," said Putin adding "however, so far we have not seen such readiness on their part."

In a joint statement, Putin and Xi took aim at the West and called on the US "to stop undermining international and regional security and global strategic stability in order to secure its unilateral military advantage."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-president-xi-jinping-invites-putin-to-visit-beijing-this-year-574268">Chinese President Xi Jinping invites Putin to visit Beijing this year</a>

Expressing concern over NATO's growing presence in Asia, the two leaders in their declaration said: "The parties express great concern over the ongoing strengthening of NATO's ties with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region on military and security issues."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

China and Russia on Tuesday hailed a "new era" in their relationship. Putting on a united front against the West, the allies expressed "great concern" over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) growing presence in Asia and accused the United States of 'undermining' global security.

China and Russia on Tuesday hailed a "new era" in their relationship. Putting on a united front against the West, the allies expressed "great concern" over the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) growing presence in Asia and accused the United States of 'undermining' global security. 'Dear friends' Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday, held four and a half hours of talks. The two leaders, as per AFP, agreed to deepen the partnership they share. Watch | ‘Dear friends’ Xi & Putin meet in Moscow Putin, as per the report, also accused the West of rejecting Beijing's proposals to end the Ukraine conflict. The Russian leader said that he was open to talks on Ukraine. He also praised China's 12-point position paper on the conflict. He also accused Kyiv of being unwilling to implement China's proposals. Also read | Putin holds talks with Chinese President Xi at Kremlin, hails 'special' Russia-China ties "Many of the provisions of the peace plan put forward by China... can be taken as the basis for a peaceful settlement when Kyiv and the West will be ready for it," said Putin adding "however, so far we have not seen such readiness on their part." In a joint statement, Putin and Xi took aim at the West and called on the US "to stop undermining international and regional security and global strategic stability in order to secure its unilateral military advantage." Also read | Chinese President Xi Jinping invites Putin to visit Beijing this year Expressing concern over NATO's growing presence in Asia, the two leaders in their declaration said: "The parties express great concern over the ongoing strengthening of NATO's ties with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region on military and security issues." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Dear friends' Putin and Xi unify against the West, express concern over NATO presence in Asia

Sweden's Foreign Minister said that Turkiye not approving its bid to join NATO, is something Sweden did not want but was prepared for. On Friday, Turkiye decided to ratify Finland's application but not Sweden's. Sweden says it is only a matter of time before the membership bid is accepted.

Turkiye contemplates NATO membership for Sweden, approves Finland

The Kremlin as well as Beijing have recently confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia from March 20 to 22. This comes weeks after Beijing proposed a 12-point peace plan urging both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation. Similarly, a report by the Wall Street Journal, earlier this week, also suggested that Xi may hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which would be the first time since Moscow began its “special military operation” in Kyiv.&nbsp;

China’s role in the conflict

China had garnered criticism for its stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine particularly as the conflict had crossed its one-year mark. This came as Beijing had and still refuses to criticise Moscow but opted for what might be viewed as a neutral stance as it continues to urge that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations be upheld. In late February, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said American intelligence suggests China is considering supplying military aid to Moscow.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/can-china-broker-peace-between-russia-and-ukraine-after-its-success-with-saudi-arabia-iran-572689">Can China broker peace between Russia and Ukraine after its success with Saudi Arabia &amp; Iran?</a> 
 
In an interview with NBC, Blinken also said that China is “trying to have it both ways,” where “publicly, they present themselves as a country striving for peace in Ukraine, but privately, as I said, we’ve seen already over these past months the provision of non-lethal assistance that does go directly to aiding and abetting Russia’s war effort.”

However, the claim was quickly dismissed while China accused the US of “fanning flames and stoking confrontations” as it continues to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons. In response, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi had also said, Beijing would “never accept finger-pointing and even coercion and pressure on China-Russia relations.”&nbsp;

A week or so later, on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Beijing released a 12-point peace plan in a foreign ministry paper. In the peace plan the ministry had stated, “All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiralling out of control.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-set-to-visit-russia-from-march-20-22-kremlin-confirms-572906">Xi Jinping set to visit Russia from March 20-22, on trip ‘for friendship and peace’</a>

It added, “Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis” and that China would play a “constructive role,” without mentioning what that would entail. Notably, China has refrained from condemning Russia for its actions or referring to its “special military operation” as an invasion but has criticised Western sanctions imposed against Moscow.&nbsp;

Why would China want to mediate?

China had also garnered criticism from the West about supposedly defending Moscow and not doing enough to address the issues around it. Analysts, as per Reuters say that this would be Beijing’s way of deflecting some of that backlash and even if they cannot achieve a quick breakthrough it is a low-cost venture which can yield high returns for China.&nbsp;

Additionally, China also recently mediated talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia and struck a peace deal where the two countries have now decided to re-establish relations after seven years of hostility which had previously threatened the stability and security in the Gulf.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-poland-slovakia-to-send-13-mig-29-fighter-jets-to-war-torn-ukraine-572961">After Poland, Slovakia to send 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine; Kremlin reacts</a>

“This is a victory for dialogue, a victory for peace, offering major good news at a time of much turbulence in the world”, China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi had said at the time. Notably, the deal was seen as a landmark diplomatic win for China in a region where the geopolitical scenario had previously been dominated by the US.&nbsp;

Wang also said that China as a “good-faith and reliable mediator” has “faithfully fulfilled its duties as the host”. He added, Beijing will continue to play a constructive role in handling hotspot issues of the world and demonstrate its responsibility as a major nation and that the world is not just limited to the “Ukraine issue”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-defence-minister-awards-pilots-involved-in-downing-of-us-drone-over-black-sea-573006">Russian defence minister honours pilots involved in downing of US drone over Black Sea</a>

As per Reuters, analysts have said that under Xi’s stewardship, Beijing is attempting to project itself as a responsible power where the Chinese president “would want to be seen on the global stage as a statesman whose influence at least equals that of the US leader,” said Wang Jiangyu, a law professor at the City University of Hong Kong.&nbsp;

Will China be an ‘honest broker’?

Last year, weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Xi had hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing for the Winter Olympics where the two countries had issued a joint statement committing to their “no limits” friendship.&nbsp;

Therefore, since China proposed its peace deal it has been met with deep scepticism given its “no-limits” friendship with Moscow, many have questioned if it can be an honest broker between Russia and Ukraine. After the 12-point plan was released, charge d’affaires at the Ukrainian embassy in Beijing, Zhanna Leshchynska, said that it was a “good sign” but questioned China’s neutrality.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/xi-jinping-to-visit-russia-in-show-of-support-for-vladimir-putin-573029">Xi Jinping to visit Russia in show of support for Vladimir Putin</a>

“If it is neutrality, then China should talk to both sides, Russia and Ukraine. Now we see the Chinese side mostly talking with Russia, but not Ukraine,” said Zhanna. She added that Kyiv will not agree to anything which keeps “Ukrainian territories occupied” and “puts our people at the aggressor’s mercy”.&nbsp;

Similarly, an international security expert Li Mingjiang dismissed the proposal as China’s “attempt at public relations”. He added, “I'm not convinced that this policy is going to improve their credibility in being an honest broker.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-xi-to-sign-declaration-as-russia-china-ties-enter-new-era-kremlin-573041">Putin, Xi to sign declaration as Russia-China ties enter 'new era': Kremlin</a>

It is also worth noting that since the conflict began Beijing has called for peace but at the same time backed the Russian position of NATO being a threat to Moscow with its eastward expansion. Meanwhile, it has also accused the West of fanning the flames of the conflict by supplying Ukraine with military aid.&nbsp;

In this context, some have also called on Beijing to clarify its stance, “China feels it necessary to repeat its self-perceived neutrality at this juncture, to save some international inference by not only criticising NATO but also distinguishing itself from Russia’s behaviour,” said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Beijing’s Renmin University, as per Sky News.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-made-weaponised-drone-shot-down-by-ukrainian-forces-572990">Chinese-made retrofitted, weaponised drone shot down by Ukrainian forces</a>

“China doesn't have much credibility because they have not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last month after the deal was announced. While China may not have “credibility” as an honest broker, experts believe that it is in a better position to mediate than Turkey as it holds some leverage over both Russia and Ukraine. &nbsp;

Currently, China can be viewed as Russia’s most important ally as not only has it been buying oil from Moscow it also provided a market for its goods after they were sanctioned by Western countries. On the other hand, a Russia expert at Oxford University, Samuel Ramani also spoke about Beijing’s leverage over Ukraine which includes not losing their chances of Chinese support for its reconstruction, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-urges-ukraine-and-russia-to-restart-peace-talks-as-soon-as-possible-572746">China urges Ukraine and Russia to restart peace talks 'as soon as possible'</a>

Additionally, after Russia had annexed Crimea in 2014, Beijing increased trade with Ukraine and did not recognise the annexed territory as Russian, said Ramani. He added, “Most importantly, Zelensky does not want to provoke China so much that they start arming Russia”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Kremlin as well as Beijing have recently confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia from March 20 to 22. This comes weeks after Beijing proposed a 12-point peace plan urging both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation.

The Kremlin as well as Beijing have recently confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia from March 20 to 22. This comes weeks after Beijing proposed a 12-point peace plan urging both sides to agree to a gradual de-escalation. Similarly, a report by the Wall Street Journal, earlier this week, also suggested that Xi may hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which would be the first time since Moscow began its “special military operation” in Kyiv. China’s role in the conflict China had garnered criticism for its stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine particularly as the conflict had crossed its one-year mark. This came as Beijing had and still refuses to criticise Moscow but opted for what might be viewed as a neutral stance as it continues to urge that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations be upheld. In late February, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said American intelligence suggests China is considering supplying military aid to Moscow. ALSO WATCH | Can China broker peace between Russia and Ukraine after its success with Saudi Arabia & Iran? In an interview with NBC, Blinken also said that China is “trying to have it both ways,” where “publicly, they present themselves as a country striving for peace in Ukraine, but privately, as I said, we’ve seen already over these past months the provision of non-lethal assistance that does go directly to aiding and abetting Russia’s war effort.” However, the claim was quickly dismissed while China accused the US of “fanning flames and stoking confrontations” as it continues to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons. In response, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi had also said, Beijing would “never accept finger-pointing and even coercion and pressure on China-Russia relations.” A week or so later, on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Beijing released a 12-point peace plan in a foreign ministry paper. In the peace plan the ministry had stated, “All parties must stay rational and exercise restraint, avoid fanning the flames and aggravating tensions, and prevent the crisis from deteriorating further or even spiralling out of control.” ALSO READ | Xi Jinping set to visit Russia from March 20-22, on trip ‘for friendship and peace’ It added, “Dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis” and that China would play a “constructive role,” without mentioning what that would entail. Notably, China has refrained from condemning Russia for its actions or referring to its “special military operation” as an invasion but has criticised Western sanctions imposed against Moscow. Why would China want to mediate? China had also garnered criticism from the West about supposedly defending Moscow and not doing enough to address the issues around it. Analysts, as per Reuters say that this would be Beijing’s way of deflecting some of that backlash and even if they cannot achieve a quick breakthrough it is a low-cost venture which can yield high returns for China. Additionally, China also recently mediated talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia and struck a peace deal where the two countries have now decided to re-establish relations after seven years of hostility which had previously threatened the stability and security in the Gulf. ALSO READ | After Poland, Slovakia to send 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine; Kremlin reacts “This is a victory for dialogue, a victory for peace, offering major good news at a time of much turbulence in the world”, China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi had said at the time. Notably, the deal was seen as a landmark diplomatic win for China in a region where the geopolitical scenario had previously been dominated by the US. Wang also said that China as a “good-faith and reliable mediator” has “faithfully fulfilled its duties as the host”. He added, Beijing will continue to play a constructive role in handling hotspot issues of the world and demonstrate its responsibility as a major nation and that the world is not just limited to the “Ukraine issue”. ALSO READ | Russian defence minister honours pilots involved in downing of US drone over Black Sea As per Reuters, analysts have said that under Xi’s stewardship, Beijing is attempting to project itself as a responsible power where the Chinese president “would want to be seen on the global stage as a statesman whose influence at least equals that of the US leader,” said Wang Jiangyu, a law professor at the City University of Hong Kong. Will China be an ‘honest broker’? Last year, weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Xi had hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing for the Winter Olympics where the two countries had issued a joint statement committing to their “no limits” friendship. Therefore, since China proposed its peace deal it has been met with deep scepticism given its “no-limits” friendship with Moscow, many have questioned if it can be an honest broker between Russia and Ukraine. After the 12-point plan was released, charge d’affaires at the Ukrainian embassy in Beijing, Zhanna Leshchynska, said that it was a “good sign” but questioned China’s neutrality. ALSO WATCH | Xi Jinping to visit Russia in show of support for Vladimir Putin “If it is neutrality, then China should talk to both sides, Russia and Ukraine. Now we see the Chinese side mostly talking with Russia, but not Ukraine,” said Zhanna. She added that Kyiv will not agree to anything which keeps “Ukrainian territories occupied” and “puts our people at the aggressor’s mercy”. Similarly, an international security expert Li Mingjiang dismissed the proposal as China’s “attempt at public relations”. He added, “I'm not convinced that this policy is going to improve their credibility in being an honest broker.” ALSO READ | Putin, Xi to sign declaration as Russia-China ties enter 'new era': Kremlin It is also worth noting that since the conflict began Beijing has called for peace but at the same time backed the Russian position of NATO being a threat to Moscow with its eastward expansion. Meanwhile, it has also accused the West of fanning the flames of the conflict by supplying Ukraine with military aid. In this context, some have also called on Beijing to clarify its stance, “China feels it necessary to repeat its self-perceived neutrality at this juncture, to save some international inference by not only criticising NATO but also distinguishing itself from Russia’s behaviour,” said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Beijing’s Renmin University, as per Sky News. ALSO READ | Chinese-made retrofitted, weaponised drone shot down by Ukrainian forces “China doesn't have much credibility because they have not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last month after the deal was announced. While China may not have “credibility” as an honest broker, experts believe that it is in a better position to mediate than Turkey as it holds some leverage over both Russia and Ukraine. Currently, China can be viewed as Russia’s most important ally as not only has it been buying oil from Moscow it also provided a market for its goods after they were sanctioned by Western countries. On the other hand, a Russia expert at Oxford University, Samuel Ramani also spoke about Beijing’s leverage over Ukraine which includes not losing their chances of Chinese support for its reconstruction, reported Reuters. ALSO READ | China urges Ukraine and Russia to restart peace talks 'as soon as possible' Additionally, after Russia had annexed Crimea in 2014, Beijing increased trade with Ukraine and did not recognise the annexed territory as Russian, said Ramani. He added, “Most importantly, Zelensky does not want to provoke China so much that they start arming Russia”. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | Can China be an ‘honest broker’ for peace amid Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (March 17) that his government will start the process of ratifying Finland's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership bid in Parliament after the country took concrete steps to keep its promises. "We have decided to start the protocol of Finland's accession to NATO in our parliament," Erdogan said following talks with his visiting Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, the news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

Erdogan added that NATO will play a role in maintaining global security, and stability by getting stronger with Finland's membership.&nbsp;

Finnish President Niinisto reacted to the development by saying that it was important news for all. However, he said that Finland's application was not complete without Sweden.&nbsp;

Hungary, meanwhile, will vote on Finland's application to join the US-led intergovernmental military alliance on March 27. Taking to Twitter, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said, "The parliamentary vote will take place on March 27,"&nbsp;adding the ruling&nbsp;Fidesz party supported Finland's ascension.&nbsp;

Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO after Russia announced its special military operation in Ukraine in February last year. The membership requires approval from all 30 member countries.&nbsp;

Though Finland received the backing of all members, Sweden has faced objections from Turkey&nbsp;on terrorism-related issues. Earlier, Turkish President Erdogan had said that the country won’t support Sweden’s ascension bid to NATO and demanded that they extradite dozens of suspects, which it considers “terrorists", including the Kurdistan Workers' Party.&nbsp;

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey's decision to ratifying Finland's membership, and said&nbsp;Sweden should also be allowed to join "as soon as possible".

"The most important thing is that both Finland and&nbsp;Sweden&nbsp;become full members of NATO quickly, not whether they join at exactly the same time," Stoltenberg said.&nbsp;

Echoing the position of NATO chief, United States&nbsp;National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the government has appealed&nbsp;Hungary to finalise&nbsp;its ratification process both for Finland and Sweden&nbsp;"without delay".

However, Sweden expressed its disappointment over its exclusion&nbsp;from NATO expansion. "This is a development that we did not want, but that we were prepared for," said Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (March 17) that his government will start the process of ratifying Finland's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership bid in Parliament after the country took concrete steps to keep its promises.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (March 17) that his government will start the process of ratifying Finland's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership bid in Parliament after the country took concrete steps to keep its promises. "We have decided to start the protocol of Finland's accession to NATO in our parliament," Erdogan said following talks with his visiting Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, the news agency AFP reported. Erdogan added that NATO will play a role in maintaining global security, and stability by getting stronger with Finland's membership. Finnish President Niinisto reacted to the development by saying that it was important news for all. However, he said that Finland's application was not complete without Sweden. Hungary, meanwhile, will vote on Finland's application to join the US-led intergovernmental military alliance on March 27. Taking to Twitter, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said, "The parliamentary vote will take place on March 27," adding the ruling Fidesz party supported Finland's ascension. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO after Russia announced its special military operation in Ukraine in February last year. The membership requires approval from all 30 member countries. Though Finland received the backing of all members, Sweden has faced objections from Turkey on terrorism-related issues. Earlier, Turkish President Erdogan had said that the country won’t support Sweden’s ascension bid to NATO and demanded that they extradite dozens of suspects, which it considers “terrorists", including the Kurdistan Workers' Party. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey's decision to ratifying Finland's membership, and said Sweden should also be allowed to join "as soon as possible". "The most important thing is that both Finland and Sweden become full members of NATO quickly, not whether they join at exactly the same time," Stoltenberg said. Echoing the position of NATO chief, United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the government has appealed Hungary to finalise its ratification process both for Finland and Sweden "without delay". However, Sweden expressed its disappointment over its exclusion from NATO expansion. "This is a development that we did not want, but that we were prepared for," said Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkey to start ratifying Finland's NATO membership bid; Hungary to vote on accession on March 27

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that he would support Finland’s NATO application, paving the way for the country to join the military bloc ahead of Sweden.

Finland's president in Turkey for talks on NATO bid

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg travelled to the Troll A platform in the North Sea on Friday (March 17). The platform extracts gas from Norway's biggest gas field. The visit has drawn attention to and underlined importance of Norwegian gas for the energy security of Europe. After Russia reduced natural gas supply to Europe last year, Norway became the largest gas supplier to the EU.

Stoltenberg and von der Leyen will "discuss the protection and resilience of critical infrastructure and gas supplies to Europe" with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Equinor CEO Anders Opedal, the PM's office said in a statement.

Security at Norwegian petroleum installations was increased after the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines on Sept. 26, 2022 in the Baltic Sea, with NATO allies providing military support.

Troll alone covered 11.3% of EU gas consumption last year, according to operator Equinor. The field accounts for one third of daily Norwegian gas exports to Europe.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-defence-minister-awards-pilots-involved-in-downing-of-us-drone-over-black-sea-573006">Russian defence minister awards pilots involved in downing of US drone over Black Sea</a>

Troll's gas is piped to a processing plant on Norway's west coast before it is piped again to the European Union and Britain.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-poland-slovakia-to-send-13-mig-29-fighter-jets-to-war-torn-ukraine-572961">After Poland, Slovakia to send 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine; Kremlin reacts</a>

Russia has long been a major supplier of natural gas to Europe. But in the aftermath of the Ukraine war, as the EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia, the latter chose to squeeze the supply in retaliation.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg travelled to the Troll A platform in the North Sea on Friday (March 17).

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg travelled to the Troll A platform in the North Sea on Friday (March 17). The platform extracts gas from Norway's biggest gas field. The visit has drawn attention to and underlined importance of Norwegian gas for the energy security of Europe. After Russia reduced natural gas supply to Europe last year, Norway became the largest gas supplier to the EU. Stoltenberg and von der Leyen will "discuss the protection and resilience of critical infrastructure and gas supplies to Europe" with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Equinor CEO Anders Opedal, the PM's office said in a statement. Security at Norwegian petroleum installations was increased after the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines on Sept. 26, 2022 in the Baltic Sea, with NATO allies providing military support. Troll alone covered 11.3% of EU gas consumption last year, according to operator Equinor. The field accounts for one third of daily Norwegian gas exports to Europe. Also Read | Russian defence minister awards pilots involved in downing of US drone over Black Sea Troll's gas is piped to a processing plant on Norway's west coast before it is piped again to the European Union and Britain. Also Read | After Poland, Slovakia to send 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine; Kremlin reacts Russia has long been a major supplier of natural gas to Europe. But in the aftermath of the Ukraine war, as the EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia, the latter chose to squeeze the supply in retaliation. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NATO, EU chiefs visit North Sea gas platform as Norway compensates Russia supply slash

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Wednesday (March 15) that Turkey had decided on ratifying Helsinki's NATO bid. The claim&nbsp;came after reports emerged that Ankara's parliament will "highly likely" ratify Finland's NATO accession bid before mid-April.&nbsp;

Niinisto will visit Istanbul this week for the final decision taken by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Finnish President said, "The Turks have hoped that I will be there to receive the answer when they announce the decision. Of course, I accepted the invitation and will go to receive his expression of intent."&nbsp;

"We knew that when Turkish President Erdogan on his part has decided to ratify Finland's NATO membership, he wants to meet and fulfil his promise president to president," Niinisto said in an email to Reuters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-aircraft-intercepted-by-british-raf-and-german-jets-near-estonian-airspace-572263">Russian aircraft intercepted by British RAF and German jets near Estonian airspace</a>&nbsp;

Two Turkish officials divulged further details in this matter to&nbsp;news agency Reuters on Wednesday. One senior Turkish official said that Finland's bid would be approved independently from that of Sweden.&nbsp;

The other official said that the way Finland&nbsp;tackles terrorist organisations, aligns with Turkey's sensitivities and that Helsinki had taken steps in that regard.&nbsp;

Erdogan has also hinted that Turkey could soon ratify Finland's NATO application, allowing the country to join the military alliance, but it will be separated from Sweden.&nbsp;

Erdogan said: "Whatever the process is, the process will function. We will do our part. We will keep our promise. We will meet with the president on Friday and fulfil the promise we made."&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Former Australian PM slams Three-Nation Nuclear Submarine Deal&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/former-australian-pm-slams-three-nation-nuclear-submarine-deal-572371/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

After Russia began the invasion of Ukraine last year in February, Sweden and Finland applied to join the trans-Atlantic defence pact. However, both nations faced unexpected hurdles.&nbsp;

To join NATO, all 30 members have to ratify any membership bids. Hungary and Turkey have not given the green light to Finland and Sweden. Ankara said that Stockholm harbours members of terrorist groups, which Sweden denies.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Wednesday (March 15) that Turkey had decided on ratifying Helsinki's NATO bid. The claim came after reports emerged that Ankara's parliament will "highly likely" ratify Finland's NATO accession bid before mid-April.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Wednesday (March 15) that Turkey had decided on ratifying Helsinki's NATO bid. The claim came after reports emerged that Ankara's parliament will "highly likely" ratify Finland's NATO accession bid before mid-April. Niinisto will visit Istanbul this week for the final decision taken by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Finnish President said, "The Turks have hoped that I will be there to receive the answer when they announce the decision. Of course, I accepted the invitation and will go to receive his expression of intent." "We knew that when Turkish President Erdogan on his part has decided to ratify Finland's NATO membership, he wants to meet and fulfil his promise president to president," Niinisto said in an email to Reuters. ALSO READ | Russian aircraft intercepted by British RAF and German jets near Estonian airspace Two Turkish officials divulged further details in this matter to news agency Reuters on Wednesday. One senior Turkish official said that Finland's bid would be approved independently from that of Sweden. The other official said that the way Finland tackles terrorist organisations, aligns with Turkey's sensitivities and that Helsinki had taken steps in that regard. Erdogan has also hinted that Turkey could soon ratify Finland's NATO application, allowing the country to join the military alliance, but it will be separated from Sweden. Erdogan said: "Whatever the process is, the process will function. We will do our part. We will keep our promise. We will meet with the president on Friday and fulfil the promise we made." WATCH | Former Australian PM slams Three-Nation Nuclear Submarine Deal × After Russia began the invasion of Ukraine last year in February, Sweden and Finland applied to join the trans-Atlantic defence pact. However, both nations faced unexpected hurdles. To join NATO, all 30 members have to ratify any membership bids. Hungary and Turkey have not given the green light to Finland and Sweden. Ankara said that Stockholm harbours members of terrorist groups, which Sweden denies. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Finland claims Turkey has reached decision on its NATO membership bid

nato

Nato, News on Nato, stories on Nato, articles on Nato, Nato stories at Wion, Nato news, Nato latest news