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dpa
Copenhagen
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin is expecting that a decision on her country joining NATO is just weeks away, she said during a visit of Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to Stockholm on Wednesday.
Marin said that it was important to reach as broad a consensus on security and foreign policy issues as possible. She emphasized that the security situation in Europe changed drastically with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Her government plans to submit a new security analysis of the consequences of Finland joining NATO on Wednesday. “The difference between being a partner and being a member is very clear and will remain so,” Marin said.
She added that “there is no other way” to have the security guarantees offered by NATO’s article 5, in which NATO members pledge their mutual support in the case of an attack.
However, Marin also pointed out that applying for membership and declining to do so both posed risks.
So far, she has not publicly announced her position on the question of NATO membership for her country.
The awaited security analysis is expected to form a basis for a parliamentary debate by listing the benefits and disadvantages of NATO membership. However, it will not take a clear position on which position is preferable.
Russia has warned Finland and Sweden repeatedly against joining NATO.
Andersson said that the partnership between Sweden and Finland has grown deeper in the last weeks, as the changed circumstances call for closer collaboration between Sweden and Finland and the EU.
None of the choices ahead are without risk, Andersson said.
The debate on NATO membership has gained new impetus in both countries by the Russian war in Ukraine which began on February 24.
Sweden is also awaiting a security analysis, due to be published by the end of May. Observers expect that Sweden might apply for NATO membership as soon as May or June.
According to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, the leadership of Andersson’s social democratic party has already decided that the country should apply for membership soon, ideally at the June NATO summit in Madrid.
Copenhagen
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin is expecting that a decision on her country joining NATO is just weeks away, she said during a visit of Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to Stockholm on Wednesday.
Marin said that it was important to reach as broad a consensus on security and foreign policy issues as possible. She emphasized that the security situation in Europe changed drastically with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Her government plans to submit a new security analysis of the consequences of Finland joining NATO on Wednesday. “The difference between being a partner and being a member is very clear and will remain so,” Marin said.
She added that “there is no other way” to have the security guarantees offered by NATO’s article 5, in which NATO members pledge their mutual support in the case of an attack.
However, Marin also pointed out that applying for membership and declining to do so both posed risks.
So far, she has not publicly announced her position on the question of NATO membership for her country.
The awaited security analysis is expected to form a basis for a parliamentary debate by listing the benefits and disadvantages of NATO membership. However, it will not take a clear position on which position is preferable.
Russia has warned Finland and Sweden repeatedly against joining NATO.
Andersson said that the partnership between Sweden and Finland has grown deeper in the last weeks, as the changed circumstances call for closer collaboration between Sweden and Finland and the EU.
None of the choices ahead are without risk, Andersson said.
The debate on NATO membership has gained new impetus in both countries by the Russian war in Ukraine which began on February 24.
Sweden is also awaiting a security analysis, due to be published by the end of May. Observers expect that Sweden might apply for NATO membership as soon as May or June.
According to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, the leadership of Andersson’s social democratic party has already decided that the country should apply for membership soon, ideally at the June NATO summit in Madrid.
