Before the meeting in Stockholm on Wednesday, Sanna Marin, Finland’s Prime Minister and Magdalena Andersson, Sweden’s Prime Minister, stated that they would apply for NATO membership in advance of the Alliance’s summit in Madrid in June 2020. A joint press conference was held by Finland, which stated that it would decide to leave its neutral status and join NATO due to the “fundamentally altered” security environment in Europe. This refers to the invasion of Moscow by Ukraine. Marin, the Finnish leader, stated that although she couldn’t give a precise timeline for joining NATO, the decision was only weeks away.
Sweden reiterated that the application was subject to assessment of the current security situation, as Russia invaded Ukraine. However, the leaders stated that the decision will be made “before midsummer”.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto stated at the news conference that “I am ready to assume a position as soon the parliament receives sufficient information and we will have the positions from the parties.”
NATO Alliance to ratify two nations’ membership
The NATO Alliance’s 30 members will have to ratify these two nations’ membership. Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, had previously stated that the Alliance’s door is open to all countries and that they are at their own discretion. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin previously threatened serious military consequences against Sweden and Finland if they decided to abandon their neutrality in favor of joining NATO. The warning was issued shortly after Russia’s powerful military forces launched an armed offensive that they described as a special military intervention in Kyiv to make a proposal for joining NATO as tensions mount.
However, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, categorically warned Finlandand Sweden not to try to join NATO. Moscow saw the potential to join the alliance as a reason to wage war inside Ukraine. Moscow also sent written letters to Finland and Sweden demanding security guarantees. It stated that the prospects of joining NATO became a key reason for Moscow to wage war inside Ukraine.
Sweden and Finland can increase the threshold of military force in the Baltic Sea region through NATO membership: Finnish MoD
A Finnish government-commissioned report outlined that the war in Ukraine isrendering thesenations anxious about their own security. The issue will be referred to the parliament by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with an opening discussion scheduled for Wednesday. The White Paper by Finland’s defense ministry warns that, should Sweden and Finland become NATO members the threshold for using military force would rise in the Baltic Sea area, which would improve the stability of the region over the long-term.
The report states that Russia’s war is threatening security and stability across Europe. Russia’s attack on Ukraine will have a lasting impact on our security environment. She stated that trust in Russia has fallen.
Finland shares the EU’s longest1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Moscow and in 1917 had declared independence having fought one Winter War in 1939 with the Soviets following the invasion. Russia stated that if they align with defensive NATO there would be both military and political consequences for Helsinki and Stockholm, as it would pose an immediate threat to Moscow’s national security. However, the two Nordic countries Finland and Sweden announced they will concentrate on the security policies to decide whether they want to join NATO. Marin said that the conference was clear that their choices will impact not only themselves but also our neighbours. Andersson said that Sweden and Finland would have a close relationship and have an honest and straightforward discussion about joining the Alliance.
