Finland, Sweden apply to join NATO today

“I’m glad we’re on the same path and we can do it together,” Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on May 17 during a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.

According to Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, the quick approval of Sweden and Finland’s applications by the US to join NATO will help speed up the whole process.

“That’s very important in this context,” Mr. Sauli Niinisto said.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson are expected to meet US President Joe Biden on May 19 to discuss joining NATO.

The process of joining NATO of the two Nordic countries is facing difficulties when Turkey unexpectedly opposes, announcing that it does not support Sweden and Finland to join this US-led military alliance.

“The statements from Turkey have become tougher in the past few days. But I am sure that, with constructive discussions, we will work out the situation.” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said.

President Sauli Niinisto said he spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a month ago. Then, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a message of support for Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO.

“But last week he said ‘not favorable’. That means we must continue our discussions. I’m optimistic,” President Sauli Niinisto added.

Sweden and Finland considered becoming NATO members after Russia launched a military campaign against Ukraine in February.

Although Sweden and Finland have applied to join NATO, the process for these two countries to become members of this military alliance is said to be not easy and takes a long time.

According to NATO rules, a country can only be officially admitted if it receives the consent of all the member countries in the bloc.

Reacting to Sweden and Finland’s decision to join NATO, President Vladimir Putin declared Moscow “no matter what” with Stockholm or Helsinki and their accession to NATO “does not pose a direct threat to Russia”.

However, Mr. Putin also emphasized “The expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure into Swedish or Finnish territory will certainly force us to respond,” he said. and Russia’s response “will be based on threats to us.”

After the US and UK, Denmark, Iceland and Norway recently made security commitments to Sweden and Finland when they applied for NATO membership. To date, Turkey is the only NATO member to speak out against Stockholm and Helsinki joining the NATO military bloc.