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{{bilateral|Finnish–Turkish|Finland|Turkey|mission1= Embassy of Finland, Ankara|mission2= [[Embassy of Turkey, Helsinki]]}}
{{refimprove|date=April 2022}}
{{bilateral|Finnish–Turkish|Finland|Turkey|mission1= Embassy of Finland, Ankara|mission2= Embassy of Turkey, Helsinki}}


'''Finland–Turkey relations''' are foreign relations between [[Finland]] and [[Turkey]]. The [[Ottoman Empire]] recognized the independence of Finland on February 21, 1918. Diplomatic relations between them were established on May 20, 1920. Finland has an embassy in [[Ankara]] and an honorary consulate general in [[Istanbul]] and other honorary consulates in [[Adana]], [[Alanya]], [[Antalya]], [[Belek]], [[Bodrum]], [[Izmir]] and [[Kayseri]]. Turkey has an embassy in [[Helsinki]].
'''Finland–Turkey relations''' are foreign relations between [[Finland]] and [[Turkey]]. Finland has an embassy in [[Ankara]] and an honorary consulate general in [[Istanbul]]. Turkey has an [[Embassy of Turkey, Helsinki|embassy in Helsinki]].
Both countries are full members of the [[Council of Europe]], the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)]], [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)]], and the [[Union for the Mediterranean]]. Finland is an [[European Union|EU]] [[Member state of the European Union|member]] and Turkey is an [[European Union|EU]] [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|candidate]]. Finland supports Turkey's accession to the EU.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://yle.fi/a/3-5334101 |title = Halonen lupaa Suomen tukevan Turkin EU-jäsenyyttä |language = fi |date = March 29, 2011 |work = yle.fi |access-date = 23 December 2024 |archive-date = 28 September 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230928210518/https://yle.fi/a/3-5334101 |url-status = live }}</ref> Turkey did not support [[Accession of Finland to NATO|Finland's accession to NATO]] until March 2023, but accepted its participation.


==History==
==History==
[[File:Finnish Tatars celebrating Turkey 1933.jpg|thumb|[[Finnish Tatars]] celebrating Turkey in Tampere, October 1933]]
In October 2021, in the wake of the appeal for the release of Turkish activist [[Osman Kavala]] signed by 10 western countries, Turkish president [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] ordered his foreign minister to declare the Finnish ambassador ''[[persona non grata]]'', alongside the other 9 ambassadors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-to-declare-10-ambassadors-persona-non-grata/a-59604866|website=[[dw.com]]|title=Turkey to declare 10 ambassadors 'persona non grata'|date=23 October 2021}}</ref> However, the ambassadors did not receive any formal notice to leave the country and Erdoğan eventually stepped back.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/25/world/europe/erdogan-turkey-ambassador.html|website=[[New York Times]]|title=Turkish President Steps Back From Expulsions of 10 Western Diplomats|first=Carlota|last=Gall|date=2021-10-25|access-date=2021-10-25}}</ref>
The [[Ottoman Empire]] recognized the independence of Finland on February 21, 1918. Diplomatic relations between them were established on September 12, 1926. Relations between the two countries were described as being friendly though due to geographical separation, co-operation was limited. The first ambassador to Turkey was established in 1931 and an embassy in 1940. Finnish President at the time, [[Urho Kekkonen]], made a state visit to Turkey in 1971, being the first Nordic head of state to visit Turkey in 250 years. Finnish tourism to Turkey increased in the 1980s, when destinations were established first to [[Marmara region]] and later to [[Alanya]] and [[Side, Turkey|Side]]. Finland was among the first countries to support [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey's accession to the EU]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kahdenväliset suhteet |url=https://finlandabroad.fi/web/tur/kahdenvaliset-suhteet |publisher=Finnish embassy in Ankara |access-date=29 October 2022 |language=Finnish}}</ref>


In 2008, the front door of the Turkish embassy in Helsinki was set on fire. The day prior to that, a Kurdish demonstration was staged by the embassy. Four young men of Turkish-Kurdish background were brought into custody. The Police stated it was politically motivated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Turkish Embassy in Helsinki Defaced |url=https://yle.fi/news/3-6116025 |website=yle news |date=21 October 2008 |publisher=YLE |access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, Turkey opposed Finland joining [[NATO]] because according to Turkey it hosts “terrorist organisations” which act against Turkey (including the [[PKK]], [[YPG]] and [[Gulen movement]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/erdogan-says-turkey-not-positive-finland-sweden-joining-nato-2022-05-13/ |title=Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO |website=reuters |date=13 May 2022}}</ref>
Finland stopped selling weapons to Turkey in 2019 due to [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria|Turkey's military operation in Syria]].<ref>{{cite web |url =https://anfturkce.com/guncel/finlandiya-tuerkiye-ye-silah-satisini-durdurdu-131381 |title = Finlandiya, Türkiye'ye silah satışını durdurdu.|language=tr|date = October 9, 2019 |work =ANF }}</ref>
In 2020, a Finnish citizen was arrested in Turkey, being suspected of having links to [[ISIS]]. [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] reported that it was aware of the arrest but refused to comment on it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finnish citizen arrested in Turkey, suspected of involvement in terror group Isis |url=https://yle.fi/news/3-11582603 |website=yle news |date=7 October 2020 |publisher=YLE |access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref>
In January 2023, Finland lifted its embargo on weapons exports to Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-finland-permits-first-defence-export|title=Finland permits first defence export to Turkey since 2019|date=2023-01-25|accessdate=2023-04-09|publisher=[[Middle East Eye]]|archive-date=9 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409164803/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-finland-permits-first-defence-export|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Osman Kavala dispute===
In October 2021, in the wake of the appeal for the release of Turkish activist [[Osman Kavala]] signed by 10 western countries, Turkish president [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] ordered his foreign minister to declare the Finnish ambassador ''[[persona non grata]]'', alongside the other 9 ambassadors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-to-declare-10-ambassadors-persona-non-grata/a-59604866|website=[[dw.com]]|title=Turkey to declare 10 ambassadors 'persona non grata'|date=23 October 2021}}</ref> Following a statement by the ambassadors, reiterating their compliance with Article 41 of the [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]] regarding the diplomatic duty not to interfere in host states’ internal affairs, President Erdoğan decided to not expel the ambassadors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Erdoğan backpedals, says 10 Western envoys can stay in Turkey |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-expel-western-ambassadors-diplomatic-crisis-osman-kavala/ |access-date=26 March 2023 |work=POLITICO |date=26 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2021, Finnish Prime Minister [[Sanna Marin]] reacted sharply to Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]], who declared his country's ambassador deported. And Marin also asked Erdoğan to implement the [[European Court of Human Rights]] decisions and to respect the ECHR judgments.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/amp/dunya/finlandiya-basbakani-sanna-marin-erdoganin-tepkisi-uzuntu-verici-1879471 |title = Finlandiya Başbakanı Sanna Marin: Erdoğan'ın tepkisi üzüntü verici |language=tr|date = October 25, 2021 |work = Cumhuriyet }}</ref>
[[File:Pääministeri Sanna Marin ja Turkin suurlähettiläs Deniz Çakar tapasivat Helsingissä 9.12.2022 (52552248556).jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Turkish Ambassador Deniz Çakar met in Helsinki on 9 December 2022]]

=== Accession of Finland to NATO ===
{{See also|Accession of Finland to NATO}}
In 2022, Turkey opposed Finland joining [[NATO]] because according to Turkey it hosts “terrorist organisations” which act against Turkey (including the [[PKK]], [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|PYD]], [[YPG]] and [[Gulen movement]]). (However, the Gülen movement is on the list of terrorist organizations in Turkey. However, it is not on the list of terrorist organizations in Finland and the PKK is on the list of terrorist organizations in Turkey and Finland).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/erdogan-says-turkey-not-positive-finland-sweden-joining-nato-2022-05-13/ |title=Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO |website=Reuters|first1=Ece|last1=Toksabay|first2=Essi|last2=Lehto|date=13 May 2022}}</ref> In May 2022, Turkey quickly blocked the applications for NATO membership of Finland's from proceeding through an accelerated process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tr.euronews.com/2022/05/18/nyt-turkiye-isvec-ve-finlandiya-n-n-nato-ya-h-zl-uyeligini-bloke-etti|title=NYT: Türkiye, İsveç ve Finlandiya'nın NATO'ya hızlı üyeliğini bloke etti|date=2022-05-18|language=tr|publisher=tr.euronews.com}}</ref> In May 2022, Turkey vetoed Finland's NATO membership.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.yenisafak.com/dunya/turkiyeden-isvec-ve-finlandiyaya-ilk-veto-3820504 |title =Türkiye'den İsveç ve Finlandiya'ya ilk veto |language=tr|date = May 18, 2022 |work = www.yenisafak.com }}</ref> Turkey has demanded Finland and Sweden to extradite alleged terrorists linked to the Gülen movement and the Kurdish militant group PKK.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.ensonhaber.com/amp/gundem/turkiye-isvec-ve-finlandiyaya-teroristlerin-iadesi-icin-yazi-gonderdi |title = Türkiye, İsveç ve Finlandiya'ya teröristlerin iadesi için yazı gönderdi |language=tr|date = July 6, 2022 |work = ensonhaber.com }}</ref> By June 2022 Finland had received 10 extradition requests, of which two were handed to the Turkish authorities. There are around 16,000 [[Kurds in Finland]], some of them being from [[Kurds in Turkey|Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12463469 | title=Näin Suomen kurdit kommentoivat Turkin presidentti Erdoğanin vaatimuksia: "Jos hyväksytään Turkin ehdot, Isis vahvistuu" | date=June 2022 }}</ref>
Turkey asked Finland and Sweden not to support the Gülen movement and the PKK.<ref name="tgrthaber.com.tr">{{cite web |url =https://www.tgrthaber.com.tr/gundem/turkiyeden-isvec-ve-finlandiyaya-10-sart-2831790 |title = Türkiye'den İsveç ve Finlandiya'ya NATO üyeliği için 10 şart |language=tr|date = June 8, 2022 |work =tgrthaber.com.tr }}</ref>
Turkey asked Finland to stop and end the [[Kurds|Kurdish]] demonstrations.<ref name="tgrthaber.com.tr" />
Turkey asked Finland and Sweden not to support [[terrorism]].<ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.yenisafak.com/amphtml/gundem/isvec-ve-finlandiyaya-10-sart-3833510 |title =İsveç ve Finlandiya'ya 10 şart |language=tr|date = June 8, 2022 |work = www.yenisafak.com }}</ref>
Turkey asked Finland and Sweden to address Turkey's security concerns.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bloomberght.com/cavusoglu-turkiye-nin-guvenlik-endiseleri-karsilanmali-2306737|title = Çavuşoğlu: Türkiye'nin güvenlik endişeleri karşılanmalı |language=tr|date = May 18, 2022 |work = www.bloomberght.com }}</ref>
In September 2022, Turkey requested the extradition of 6 Turkish citizens from Finland. However, Finland did not respond positively and refused.<ref>{{cite web |url =http://www.samanyoluhaber.com/iade-tartismasinda-akpye-kotu-haber-finlandiya-talepleri-reddetti-haberi/1398486/ |title = 'İade' tartışmasında AKP'ye kötü haber: Finlandiya talepleri reddetti |language=tr|date = September 9, 2022 |work =www.samanyoluhaber.com }}</ref>
Turkey demanded that Finland end its support to the Gülen movement and the PKK.<ref>{{cite web |title=NATO'ya girmek isteyen İsveç ve Finlandiya, terör örgütlerini himaye ediyor|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/natoya-girmek-isteyen-isvec-ve-finlandiya-teror-orgutlerini-himaye-ediyor/2588619|publisher=Anadolu Ajansı |access-date=15 May 2022}}</ref>
In December 2022, Finnish Defense Minister [[Antti Kaikkonen]], in a statement after his meeting with his Turkish counterpart [[Hulusi Akar]], announced that Finland was ready to address Turkey's security concerns and that they always condemned terrorism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/amp/dunya/bakan-akar-finlandiya-savunma-bakani-kaikkonen-ile-bir-araya-geldi-2010052|title=Bakan Akar, Finlandiya Savunma Bakanı Kaikkonen ile bir araya geldi|date=2022-12-08|language=tr|publisher=Cumhuriyet|access-date=13 December 2022|archive-date=13 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213193506/https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/amp/dunya/bakan-akar-finlandiya-savunma-bakani-kaikkonen-ile-bir-araya-geldi-2010052|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/finlandiya-savunma-bakani-kaikkonen-turkiyenin-guvenlik-endiselerini-anliyoruz-terorle-mucadelede-kararliyiz/2758955|title=Finlandiya Savunma Bakanı Kaikkonen: Türkiye'nin güvenlik endişelerini anlıyoruz, terörle mücadelede kararlıyız|date=2022-12-08|language=tr|publisher=Anadolu Ajansı|access-date=14 December 2022|archive-date=14 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214055036/https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/finlandiya-savunma-bakani-kaikkonen-turkiyenin-guvenlik-endiselerini-anliyoruz-terorle-mucadelede-kararliyiz/2758955|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2023, [[Speaker of the Grand National Assembly|President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly]] [[Mustafa Şentop]] cancelled the [[Speaker of the Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament Speaker]] [[Matti Vanhanen]]'s visit to Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/d5888d8c-7f2a-437f-99a8-7f6984e0f60a|title=”Meillä on Pohjoismaissa mielipiteen ilmaisun vapaus” – Vanhaselta viesti Erdoğan-nukesta pillastuneille turkkilaisille|date=2023-01-16|language=fi|publisher=Iltalehti}}</ref>
After Turkey's parliament approved Finland's application on 30 March 2023, Finland was set to become the [[Enlargement_of_NATO#Finland|31st member of NATO]].<ref name=mehta >Aaron Mehta [https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/welcome-to-nato-finland-clears-turkish-hurdle-will-join-military-alliance-in-coming-weeks/ (30 Mar 2023) Welcome to NATO: Finland clears Turkish hurdle, will join military alliance in coming weeks]</ref>
On 1 April 2023, Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] signed and approved the proposal containing Finland's accession protocol.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20025375|title=Erdogan has signed ratification of Finland's Nato membership|website=Yle|date=1 April 2023 |access-date=4 April 2023 |archive-date=1 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401205652/https://yle.fi/a/74-20025375 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Economic relations==
Turkey is an important trading partner for Finland. Trade between the two countries totaled $1.3 billion in 2018. Turkey is among the most popular tourist destinations for Finns, with 230,000 Finns travelling to Turkey in 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pxweb2.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__smat/statfin_smat_pxt_13gp.px/ | title=Trips abroad by Trip purpose, Area of destination, Year, Season, Type of trip abroad and Information }}</ref>

==Diaspora==
As of 2023, there were 13,399 people in Finland of Turkish background, of which 10,555 were born in Turkey and 2,844 in Finland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Origin and background country by language, age (1-year) and sex, 1990-2021 |url=https://pxdata.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11rs.px/ |publisher=Statistics Finland |access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref> Around 2,000 Finns live in the [[Alanya]] region alone.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ollilat asuvat upeasti Alanyassa: Maksoi vähemmän kuin yksiö Kalliossa |date=21 May 2016 |url=https://www.is.fi/asuminen/art-2000001182461.html |publisher=Ilta-Sanomat |access-date=29 October 2022 |language=Finnish}}</ref>

==European Union==
Finland joined the [[European Union|EU]] in [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|1995]]. Turkey is still a candidate country for the [[European Union|EU]], and
[[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|membership negotiations]] have been effectively frozen since 2016. Finland fully supports [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|Turkey's EU membership process]], as it has effectively frozen membership negotiations.

==NATO==
Turkey joined [[NATO]] in [[Turkey in NATO|1952]]. Finland joined [[NATO]] in [[Finland–NATO relations|2023]].


==State visits==
==State visits==
{{unreferencedsect|date=April 2022}}
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
|-
Line 18: Line 52:
! Date of visit
! Date of visit
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[President of Turkey|President]] [[Abdullah Gül]]
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[President of Finland|President]] [[Urho Kekkonen]]
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[President of Finland|President]] [[Tarja Halonen]]
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[President of Turkey|President]] [[Cevdet Sunay]]
| [[Ankara]], Turkey
| 7-12 June 1971<ref name="Suomi ulkomailla">{{Cite web |title=Kahdenväliset suhteet |url=https://finlandabroad.fi/web/tur/kahdenvaliset-suhteet |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Suomi ulkomailla: Turkki |language=fi-FI}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} President [[Fahri Korutürk]]
| {{flagicon|Finland}} President Urho Kekkonen
| [[Helsinki]], Finland
| 12-15 April 1977<ref name="Suomi ulkomailla"/>
|-
| {{flagicon|Finland}} President [[Martti Ahtisaari]]
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} President [[Süleyman Demirel]]
| Ankara, Turkey
| 20 November 1999<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland |url=https://www.presidentti.fi/ahtisaari/puheet-1999/p991120.ankaraen.html |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=www.presidentti.fi}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} President [[Abdullah Gül]]
| {{flagicon|Finland}} President [[Tarja Halonen]]
| Helsinki, Finland
| Helsinki, Finland
| 7–9 October 2008
| 7–9 October 2008
Line 29: Line 78:
|-
|-
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
| {{flagicon|Finland}} Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi
| {{flagicon|Finland}} Prime Minister [[Mari Kiviniemi]]
| Helsinki, Finland
| Helsinki, Finland
| 19–20 October 2010
| 19–20 October 2010
Line 52: Line 101:
| Helsinki, Finland
| Helsinki, Finland
| 6 April 2016
| 6 April 2016
|-
| {{flagicon|Finland}} President Sauli Niinistö
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
| Ankara, and [[Kahramanmaraş]], Turkey
| 16–17 March 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Niinistö visits Turkey earthquake zone |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20022765 |website=yle news |date=16 March 2023 |publisher=YLE |access-date=17 March 2023}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|Finland}} President [[Alexander Stubb]]
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
| Ankara, Turkey
| 1 October 2024
|}
|}


==Resident diplomatic missions==
* Finland has an embassy in [[Ankara]].
* Turkey has an embassy in [[Helsinki]].

<gallery class="center">
File:Türkiye embassy in Helsinki.jpg|Embassy of Turkey in Helsinki
</gallery>
== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Foreign relations of Finland]]
* [[Foreign relations of Finland]]
* [[Foreign relations of Turkey]]
* [[Foreign relations of Turkey]]
* [[EU-Turkey relations]]
* [[Finland–NATO relations]]
* [[Turkey–European Union relations]]
* [[Finnish diaspora]]
* [[Turks in Finland]]
* [[List of ambassadors of Turkey to Finland]]
* [[Turks in Europe]]
* [[Turks in Finland]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 12:57, 23 December 2024

Finnish–Turkish relations
Map indicating locations of Finland and Turkey

Finland

Turkey
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Finland, AnkaraEmbassy of Turkey, Helsinki

Finland–Turkey relations are foreign relations between Finland and Turkey. Finland has an embassy in Ankara and an honorary consulate general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Union for the Mediterranean. Finland is an EU member and Turkey is an EU candidate. Finland supports Turkey's accession to the EU.[1] Turkey did not support Finland's accession to NATO until March 2023, but accepted its participation.

History

[edit]
Finnish Tatars celebrating Turkey in Tampere, October 1933

The Ottoman Empire recognized the independence of Finland on February 21, 1918. Diplomatic relations between them were established on September 12, 1926. Relations between the two countries were described as being friendly though due to geographical separation, co-operation was limited. The first ambassador to Turkey was established in 1931 and an embassy in 1940. Finnish President at the time, Urho Kekkonen, made a state visit to Turkey in 1971, being the first Nordic head of state to visit Turkey in 250 years. Finnish tourism to Turkey increased in the 1980s, when destinations were established first to Marmara region and later to Alanya and Side. Finland was among the first countries to support Turkey's accession to the EU.[2]

In 2008, the front door of the Turkish embassy in Helsinki was set on fire. The day prior to that, a Kurdish demonstration was staged by the embassy. Four young men of Turkish-Kurdish background were brought into custody. The Police stated it was politically motivated.[3] Finland stopped selling weapons to Turkey in 2019 due to Turkey's military operation in Syria.[4] In 2020, a Finnish citizen was arrested in Turkey, being suspected of having links to ISIS. Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs reported that it was aware of the arrest but refused to comment on it.[5] In January 2023, Finland lifted its embargo on weapons exports to Turkey.[6]

Osman Kavala dispute

[edit]

In October 2021, in the wake of the appeal for the release of Turkish activist Osman Kavala signed by 10 western countries, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ordered his foreign minister to declare the Finnish ambassador persona non grata, alongside the other 9 ambassadors.[7] Following a statement by the ambassadors, reiterating their compliance with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations regarding the diplomatic duty not to interfere in host states’ internal affairs, President Erdoğan decided to not expel the ambassadors.[8]

In October 2021, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin reacted sharply to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who declared his country's ambassador deported. And Marin also asked Erdoğan to implement the European Court of Human Rights decisions and to respect the ECHR judgments.[9]

Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Turkish Ambassador Deniz Çakar met in Helsinki on 9 December 2022

Accession of Finland to NATO

[edit]

In 2022, Turkey opposed Finland joining NATO because according to Turkey it hosts “terrorist organisations” which act against Turkey (including the PKK, PYD, YPG and Gulen movement). (However, the Gülen movement is on the list of terrorist organizations in Turkey. However, it is not on the list of terrorist organizations in Finland and the PKK is on the list of terrorist organizations in Turkey and Finland).[10] In May 2022, Turkey quickly blocked the applications for NATO membership of Finland's from proceeding through an accelerated process.[11] In May 2022, Turkey vetoed Finland's NATO membership.[12] Turkey has demanded Finland and Sweden to extradite alleged terrorists linked to the Gülen movement and the Kurdish militant group PKK.[13] By June 2022 Finland had received 10 extradition requests, of which two were handed to the Turkish authorities. There are around 16,000 Kurds in Finland, some of them being from Turkey.[14] Turkey asked Finland and Sweden not to support the Gülen movement and the PKK.[15] Turkey asked Finland to stop and end the Kurdish demonstrations.[15] Turkey asked Finland and Sweden not to support terrorism.[16] Turkey asked Finland and Sweden to address Turkey's security concerns.[17] In September 2022, Turkey requested the extradition of 6 Turkish citizens from Finland. However, Finland did not respond positively and refused.[18] Turkey demanded that Finland end its support to the Gülen movement and the PKK.[19] In December 2022, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen, in a statement after his meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, announced that Finland was ready to address Turkey's security concerns and that they always condemned terrorism.[20][21] In January 2023, President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Şentop cancelled the Finnish Parliament Speaker Matti Vanhanen's visit to Turkey.[22] After Turkey's parliament approved Finland's application on 30 March 2023, Finland was set to become the 31st member of NATO.[23] On 1 April 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed and approved the proposal containing Finland's accession protocol.[24]

Economic relations

[edit]

Turkey is an important trading partner for Finland. Trade between the two countries totaled $1.3 billion in 2018. Turkey is among the most popular tourist destinations for Finns, with 230,000 Finns travelling to Turkey in 2015.[25]

Diaspora

[edit]

As of 2023, there were 13,399 people in Finland of Turkish background, of which 10,555 were born in Turkey and 2,844 in Finland.[26] Around 2,000 Finns live in the Alanya region alone.[27]

European Union

[edit]

Finland joined the EU in 1995. Turkey is still a candidate country for the EU, and membership negotiations have been effectively frozen since 2016. Finland fully supports Turkey's EU membership process, as it has effectively frozen membership negotiations.

NATO

[edit]

Turkey joined NATO in 1952. Finland joined NATO in 2023.

State visits

[edit]
Guest Host Place of visit Date of visit
Finland President Urho Kekkonen Turkey President Cevdet Sunay Ankara, Turkey 7-12 June 1971[28]
Turkey President Fahri Korutürk Finland President Urho Kekkonen Helsinki, Finland 12-15 April 1977[28]
Finland President Martti Ahtisaari Turkey President Süleyman Demirel Ankara, Turkey 20 November 1999[29]
Turkey President Abdullah Gül Finland President Tarja Halonen Helsinki, Finland 7–9 October 2008
Finland Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Istanbul, Turkey 6 October 2009
Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Finland Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi Helsinki, Finland 19–20 October 2010
Finland President Tarja Halonen Turkey President Abdullah Gül Ankara, and Şanlıurfa, Turkey 29–30 March 2011
Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Finland Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen Helsinki, Finland 5–6 November 2013
Finland President Sauli Niinistö Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Ankara, and Istanbul, Turkey 12–15 October 2015
Turkey Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu Finland Prime Minister Juha Sipilä Helsinki, Finland 6 April 2016
Finland President Sauli Niinistö Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Ankara, and Kahramanmaraş, Turkey 16–17 March 2023[30]
Finland President Alexander Stubb Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Ankara, Turkey 1 October 2024

Resident diplomatic missions

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Halonen lupaa Suomen tukevan Turkin EU-jäsenyyttä". yle.fi (in Finnish). March 29, 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Kahdenväliset suhteet" (in Finnish). Finnish embassy in Ankara. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Turkish Embassy in Helsinki Defaced". yle news. YLE. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Finlandiya, Türkiye'ye silah satışını durdurdu". ANF (in Turkish). October 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "Finnish citizen arrested in Turkey, suspected of involvement in terror group Isis". yle news. YLE. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Finland permits first defence export to Turkey since 2019". Middle East Eye. 2023-01-25. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  7. ^ "Turkey to declare 10 ambassadors 'persona non grata'". dw.com. 23 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Erdoğan backpedals, says 10 Western envoys can stay in Turkey". POLITICO. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Finlandiya Başbakanı Sanna Marin: Erdoğan'ın tepkisi üzüntü verici". Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). October 25, 2021.
  10. ^ Toksabay, Ece; Lehto, Essi (13 May 2022). "Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO". Reuters.
  11. ^ "NYT: Türkiye, İsveç ve Finlandiya'nın NATO'ya hızlı üyeliğini bloke etti" (in Turkish). tr.euronews.com. 2022-05-18.
  12. ^ "Türkiye'den İsveç ve Finlandiya'ya ilk veto". www.yenisafak.com (in Turkish). May 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "Türkiye, İsveç ve Finlandiya'ya teröristlerin iadesi için yazı gönderdi". ensonhaber.com (in Turkish). July 6, 2022.
  14. ^ "Näin Suomen kurdit kommentoivat Turkin presidentti Erdoğanin vaatimuksia: "Jos hyväksytään Turkin ehdot, Isis vahvistuu"". June 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Türkiye'den İsveç ve Finlandiya'ya NATO üyeliği için 10 şart". tgrthaber.com.tr (in Turkish). June 8, 2022.
  16. ^ "İsveç ve Finlandiya'ya 10 şart". www.yenisafak.com (in Turkish). June 8, 2022.
  17. ^ "Çavuşoğlu: Türkiye'nin güvenlik endişeleri karşılanmalı". www.bloomberght.com (in Turkish). May 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "'İade' tartışmasında AKP'ye kötü haber: Finlandiya talepleri reddetti". www.samanyoluhaber.com (in Turkish). September 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "NATO'ya girmek isteyen İsveç ve Finlandiya, terör örgütlerini himaye ediyor". Anadolu Ajansı. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Bakan Akar, Finlandiya Savunma Bakanı Kaikkonen ile bir araya geldi" (in Turkish). Cumhuriyet. 2022-12-08. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Finlandiya Savunma Bakanı Kaikkonen: Türkiye'nin güvenlik endişelerini anlıyoruz, terörle mücadelede kararlıyız" (in Turkish). Anadolu Ajansı. 2022-12-08. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  22. ^ ""Meillä on Pohjoismaissa mielipiteen ilmaisun vapaus" – Vanhaselta viesti Erdoğan-nukesta pillastuneille turkkilaisille" (in Finnish). Iltalehti. 2023-01-16.
  23. ^ Aaron Mehta (30 Mar 2023) Welcome to NATO: Finland clears Turkish hurdle, will join military alliance in coming weeks
  24. ^ "Erdogan has signed ratification of Finland's Nato membership". Yle. 1 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Trips abroad by Trip purpose, Area of destination, Year, Season, Type of trip abroad and Information".
  26. ^ "Origin and background country by language, age (1-year) and sex, 1990-2021". Statistics Finland. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Ollilat asuvat upeasti Alanyassa: Maksoi vähemmän kuin yksiö Kalliossa" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Kahdenväliset suhteet". Suomi ulkomailla: Turkki (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-02-27.
  29. ^ "Speech by the President of the Republic of Finland". www.presidentti.fi. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
  30. ^ "Niinistö visits Turkey earthquake zone". yle news. YLE. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
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