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HELSINKI 鈥� Finland, which has one of Europe鈥檚 longest borders with Russia, on Tuesday kicks off a parliamentary debate aimed at accelerating the country鈥檚 bid to join Nato, increasing the likelihood it will leave neighbor and military partner Sweden behind.

Spooked by Moscow鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden dropped their decades-long policies of military non-alignment and applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in May last year.

But facing fewer diplomatic hurdles than Stockholm, Helsinki appears set to move forward even before Finland鈥檚 April general elections, as public opinion also supports membership in the transatlantic military alliance.

The two countries have the support of all but two of Nato鈥檚 30 members, the holdouts being Hungary and particularly Turkey.

Many Finnish MPs have pushed for legislation affirming that Finland accepts the terms of the Nato treaty to be passed before the elections on April 2.

Finland will debate the bill on Tuesday, coinciding with a visit from Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg 鈥� who will meet with Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Niinisto.

A vote is expected by Wednesday, and having the bill passed means that Finland can act swiftly even if the ratifications come in before a new government has been formed.

Complications?

The legislation is expected to pass without much opposition, as the initial membership bid in May was supported by 188 of the 200 members in parliament.

Helsinki has so far stressed its preference to join the alliance together with Sweden, but some have interpreted the bill as signaling that Finland is ready to move forward alone.

Turkey has meanwhile blocked the bids, accusing Sweden in particular of providing a safe haven for what it considers 鈥渢errorists鈥�, especially members of the Kurdistan Workers鈥� Party (PKK).

In contrast, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that聽Turkey聽looked favorably on Finland鈥檚 bid.

鈥淲e may separate Sweden and Finland鈥檚 membership process,鈥� he said.

While Sweden sympathizes with Finland鈥檚 position, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said Finland鈥檚 joining alone could 鈥渃omplicate鈥� the close military cooperation between the Nordic countries as Sweden is left alone outside of Nato protection.

鈥楴ot beyond the elections鈥�

While passing the bill does not mean that Finland will automatically join Nato after ratification by Turkey and Hungary, it puts in place a deadline for how long it can wait for its neighbor.

The government鈥檚 chancellor of justice, Tuomas Poysti, said that after the bill is approved by the parliament, the president can wait a maximum of three months to sign it.

After the president has signed the law, there is still some time to wait for Sweden, 鈥渁 few weeks at most鈥�, before depositing the instruments of accession to Washington.

President Niinisto told reporters on Wednesday that he intended to sign the law 鈥渁s soon as it is approved by Parliament鈥�, but 鈥渋f there are practical reasons, I can wait鈥�.

鈥淏ut not beyond the elections,鈥� he added.

Some MPs specifically in the Left Alliance party 鈥� which has been vocal in its Nato opposition in the past 鈥� believe Finland should have passed that law only after the ratifications to ensure coordinated accession with Sweden.

But a majority of Finns want to go ahead and join Nato even if聽Sweden鈥檚 membership is delayed, a poll suggested earlier in February.

Cavusoglu also announced Monday that negotiations between the three countries would resume on March 9, after talks with Sweden were dropped over a row about protests held in Stockholm, including a burning of the Koran in front of Turkey鈥檚 embassy.

Hungary has signaled a vote on the Nordic countries鈥� applications is likely to happen in March.

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