Finland, Sweden leaders meet to discuss Russia-Ukraine war, express willingness to join NATO

Europe, News April 15, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson met in Stockholm to discuss the ongoing situation of the Russia-Ukraine war and to reevaluate the traditional position of neutrality that both countries have maintained since the Cold War era.

The two prime ministers expressed their willingness to join the NATO alliance to deter the ongoing Russian aggression in the region.

At the joint press conference after the meeting, Prime Minister Marin said that she could not give a timetable for a decision on whether Finland would join the NATO alliance, but she stated that the decision on this matter would not take a long time.

The Swedish Prime Minister Andersson also stated that Sweden is exploring the option of joining NATO, however, Sweden would not rush into making any decision on this matter. She indicated that Sweden would likely join the NATO alliance in June.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that our doors are always open for new members.

Earlier in January 2022, NATO’s Secretary General Stoltenberg said “Finland and Sweden are NATO’s closest partners. We share the same values. And we face the same challenges, in the Baltic Sea region and beyond. Our forces have trained and exercised together for many years. We continue to share information and situational awareness. And both Finland and Sweden have contributed to NATO missions and operations, from the Western Balkans to Iraq.”

*^{NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Pekka Haavisto and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde. (Image Credit: NATO)}*

In order to induct Finland and Sweden into NATO, all 30 NATO member countries have to ratify their admittance to the alliance. Which would take no less than a few months or even a year.

While many analysts were expecting Finland and Sweden to announce a joint application, the two countries seem to go ahead separately with their applications to join NATO.

Russia gave a strong reaction to the reports of Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Finland shares a 1,340 kilometers long border with Russia, and Russia has always stated that NATO’s expansion towards its borders would be taken as a serious threat to its security. NATO on the other hand claims to be a defensive alliance that does not pose any offensive threat to Russia.

According to a report from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the security situation in Europe has fundamentally changed after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Finland’s decision to join NATO never had more public support as it does right now. According to a survey, the public support for joining the alliance spiked to 50% after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has always persisted at around 20-30%.

Although Sweden does not share any direct border with Russia, a strategically important island of Gottland in the Baltic Sea can make Sweden vulnerable in case of conflict. Sweden has managed to keep itself neutral even during the times of World War 2 and did not fight any war for over 200 years. The Social Democrats, Sweden’s current ruling party, has always opposed joining the NATO alliance, however, the stance has recently changed amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that if Sweden and Finland join the NATO alliance, Russia would have to balance the situation in the region. Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev also stated that Finland and Sweden’s admittance into the NATO alliance would mean “no more talk of a nuclear-free Baltic”.

Peskov added that Russia has never taken such measures to escalate things in the Baltic region, and was not going to, but if the two countries decide to join the NATO alliance, Russia would restore the balance by deploying nuclear weapons in the region.