Finland Reverses Course, Says It Will Join NATO Without Sweden

Finnish officials have said they would join NATO without Sweden if Turkey only approves their membership, reversing their previous position that they would only join together with Stockholm.

The comments came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sweden wouldn’t receive support from Ankara over a Quran-burning protest that was held in front of the Turkish embassy in Turkey. Erdogan also said Turkey could approve Finland without Sweden.

Finnish Defense Minister Mikko Savola told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that Finland would prefer to join NATO with Sweden but wouldn’t delay its membership if Turkey only approves Helskinki’s membership.