Finland has kicked off a parliamentary debate aimed at accelerating the country's NATO bid, increasing the likelihood it will leave neighbor and military partner Sweden behind.
Finland and Sweden dropped their decades-long policies of military nonalignment and applied to join the alliance in May 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
But facing fewer diplomatic hurdles than Stockholm, Helsinki appears set to move forward faster.
The two countries have the backing of all but two of NATO's 30 members, the holdouts being Hungary and particularly Turkey.
Speaking in Helsinki, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said membership for the two Nordic countries was "a top priority," and urged Turkey and Hungary to urgently ratify their accession.
Stoltenberg told a news conference with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin that progress was being made on securing membership for the two countries, but didn't disclose details.
"I am absolutely confident that both Finland and Sweden will become members of NATO," he added. "The time is now to ratify in both Budapest and in Ankara."