Finland Leaves Sweden Behind in Race to NATO Membership

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö on Friday appeared set to receive the nod on Helsinki's NATO membership from Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who for several months has held up the alliance's proposed expansion because of political disputes with Sweden.

Sweden and Finland had planned to join NATO at the same time, a proposal supported by the U.S. and other key Western alliance nations. But with Erdogan still blocking Sweden's bid, Finland is set to press ahead alone.

"It was known that once President Erdogan has for his part made the...