Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, January 1, 2023. (Photo: Reuters)

Turkey's approval left Finland, which shares a 1,300 km border with Russia, with only a few technical steps to complete before it becomes the 31st member of the world's most powerful military bloc. Finland says the process will be completed early next week.

Finland and Sweden asked to join NATO after Russia launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine. The two countries’ accession forms were approved at a NATO Summit last June.

Finland’s and Sweden membership must be ratified by all 30 NATO members.