Russia freezes bank accounts of Finland’s diplomatic missions, prompting cash payments
May 17, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Russia has frozen the bank accounts of Finland’s diplomatic representations in Moscow and St. Petersburg, disrupting money flow and forcing the Nordic country's missions to resort to cash payments, the Finnish foreign minister said Wednesday.
Finnish center-right to start coalition talks with far-right
April 27, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — The head of Finland's conservative National Coalition Party, which came first in April 2 elections, said Thursday he would start talks to form a center-right coalition government that would see power-sharing with a far-right anti-immigration party.
Europe’s most powerful nuclear reactor kicks off in Finland
April 16, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s much-delayed and costly new nuclear reactor, Europe's most powerful by production capacity, has completed a test phase lasting more than a year and started regular output, boosting the Nordic country’s electricity self-sufficiency significantly.
NATO member Finland breaks ground on Russia border fence
April 15, 2023 GMTIMATRA, Finland (AP) — The construction of barbed-wired fence along Finland’s long border with Russia - primarily meant to curb illegal migration - has broken ground near the southeastern town of Imatra less than two weeks after the Nordic country joined NATO as the 31st member of the military alliance.
Finnish president: Joining NATO won’t solve all our problems
April 13, 2023 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Finland's President Sauli Niinistö on Thursday warned that the country's new status as a NATO member “doesn't solve every problem,” and said Helsinki should not let down its guard on security issues.
Outgoing Finnish leader Marin steps down as party leader
April 5, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s outgoing prime minister, Sanna Marin, said Wednesday that she will resign as the leader of her Social Democratic Party at the next party congress in the autumn, saying she hopes it will enable her “to open a new page in my own life.”
Finland joins NATO in major blow to Russia over Ukraine war
April 4, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — Finland joined the NATO military alliance Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a historic realignment of Europe's post-Cold War security landscape triggered by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finland doubling NATO’s border with Russia in blow to Putin
April 3, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — The blue-and-white Finnish flag rises outside NATO headquarters Tuesday afternoon, making Finland a member and doubling Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance.
The move is a strategic and political blow to President Vladimir Putin, who has long complained about NATO’s expansion toward Russia and partly used that as a justification for his country’s war with Ukraine.
Finland turns to the right as country prepares to enter NATO
April 3, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Finnish voters have given a boost to conservative parties in a weekend election, depriving left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin of another term as the country prepares to make its historic entry into NATO on Tuesday.
Finland prime minister ousted, conservatives win tight vote
April 2, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Finland's main conservative party claimed victory in parliamentary elections Sunday in a tight three-way race that saw right-wing populists take second place, leaving Prime Minister Sanna Marin's Social Democratic Party in third, dashing her hopes for reelection.
Finland’s young leader is popular but faces tough reelection
March 31, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — A parliamentary election in Finland on Sunday is shaping up as an extremely close race between three parties as Prime Minister Sanna Marin's Social Democrats fight to secure a second term running the government.
Turkey’s parliament ratifies Finland’s membership in NATO
March 30, 2023 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s parliament on Thursday ratified Finland’s application to join NATO, lifting the last hurdle in the way of the Nordic country’s long-delayed accession into the Western military alliance.
Hungarian parliament approves Finland’s bid to join NATO
March 27, 2023 GMTBUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s parliament on Monday approved Finland’s bid to join NATO, putting an end to months of delays and bringing the Nordic country one step closer to becoming a full member of the Western military alliance.
Finnish leadership condemns attack on veteran lawmaker
March 25, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s leaders strongly condemned an assault on a Jewish lawmaker who was assaulted and punched in the face Saturday while campaigning for the country's April 2 general election.
Hungary: Criticism makes it hard to cooperate with West
March 25, 2023 GMTUNITED NATIONS (AP) — The West’s steady criticism of Hungary on democratic and cultural issues makes the small European country’s right-wing government reluctant to offer support on practical matters, specifically NATO’s buildup against Russia, Hungary’s foreign minister said.
President seals Finland’s NATO bid by signing required laws
March 23, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — The Finnish president on Thursday formally sealed the Nordic country’s historic bid to join NATO by signing into law the required national legal amendments needed for membership in the Western military alliance.
Swedish lawmakers vote to endorse country joining NATO
March 22, 2023 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Swedish lawmakers overwhelmingly voted Wednesday in favor of Sweden joining NATO, signing off on the country's membership along with the required legislation.
Niinistö: Sweden security OK if Finland joins NATO first
March 19, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Sweden won't be in a vulnerable security situation even if Finland joins NATO first, the Finnish president said Sunday, as both Nordic membership candidates negotiate bilateral military pacts with the United States.
Turkey’s president says he will back Finland’s NATO bid
March 17, 2023 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that his government would move forward with ratifying Finland’s NATO application, paving the way for the country to join the military bloc ahead of Sweden.
Erdogan hints Turkey may ratify Finland’s NATO membership
March 15, 2023 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested Wednesday that his country may soon ratify Finland’s application to join NATO, allowing for the possibility of the country joining the military alliance separately from Sweden.
Hungary to delay vote on NATO membership for Sweden, Finland
March 14, 2023 GMTBUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A long-delayed vote in Hungary's parliament on ratifying the NATO accession bids of Sweden and Finland will likely be postponed again following a proposal from a senior government official.
Hungarian delegation cites support for Finland joining NATO
March 8, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Hungarian lawmakers widely support Finland’s NATO membership but it is unclear when the parliament in Budapest will ratify the Nordic country’s bid, a parliamentary delegation from Hungary said in Helsinki on Wednesday.
Finland’s Parliament gives final approval for NATO bid
March 1, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s Parliament gave final approval Wednesday to the Nordic country’s bid to join NATO, with lawmakers signing off on membership along with the required legislation.
The 200-seat Eduskunta legislature voted 184-7 to authorize Finland’s accession to NATO, clearing the last required domestic hurdle to becoming part of the 30-member Western military alliance.
Defense minister: Finland could join NATO ahead of Sweden
February 18, 2023 GMTMUNICH (AP) — Finland’s defense minister said Saturday that his country will join NATO without waiting for Sweden if its Nordic neighbor’s accession is held up by the Turkish government.
Finnish president wants Finland, Sweden in NATO by summer
February 11, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — The Finnish president said in an interview published Saturday that he trusts that Finland and Sweden will be admitted into NATO by July, and hinted that he wants the United States to put pressure on Turkey to approve their membership bids.
Finland ends infertility requirement for transgender people
February 1, 2023 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — Lawmakers in Finland approved amendments Wednesday that will make it substantially easier for people to change their legally recognized gender in the Nordic country.
The amendments, which are expected to take effect as soon as possible, also abolish a provision that required transgender people to provide a medical certificate proving they were infertile or sterilized before the government would recognize their gender identity.
Erdogan might approve Finland’s NATO bid, ‘shock’ Sweden
January 29, 2023 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's president has suggested his country might approve Finland's application for NATO membership before taking any action on Sweden's, while the Turkish government issued a travel warning for European countries due to anti-Turkish demonstrations and what it described as Islamophobia.
NATO chief confident Nordic pair will join despite holdups
January 10, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence Tuesday that Finland and Sweden will join the military alliance, just days after the government in Stockholm said it had done all it could to satisfy Turkey’s reservations about its membership.
Blinken confident in Finland, Sweden accession to NATO
December 8, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday the United States is confident that Finland and Sweden will be approved soon for membership in NATO despite ratification delays in allies Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey remains concerned by alleged PKK activity in Finland
December 8, 2022 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey remains concerned by alleged activities of Kurdish militant groups inside Finland and expects Helsinki to take “concrete steps” before Ankara can approve its NATO membership, Turkey’s defense minister said Thursday.