NATO allies agree that ‘Ukraine will become a member’ of the Alliance: Stoltenberg

Europe, News March 1, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Finland on February 28 to participate in the SAMAK Nordic Summit (the Cooperation Committee of the Nordic Labour Movement) and met leaders of Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.

During the summit, Stoltenberg highlighted that “NATO allies have agreed that Ukraine will become a member of our alliance”, but added that it is a long-term perspective, and the Allies are now focused on ensuring that Ukraine prevails as “a sovereign, independent nation”, and therefore NATO members need to continue supporting Kyiv.

While in Helsinki, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, President Sauli Niinisto, and Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto. Stoltenberg also held meetings with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party Magdalena Andersson.

The NATO secretary general said in a statement that “All NATO Allies made a historic decision to invite both Finland and Sweden to become members of the Alliance.” He stressed that completing Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO Alliance is a priority for the members. Stoltenberg pointed out in Helsinki that it is time “to ratify and to fully welcome both Finland and Sweden as members” of the NATO Alliance.

Speaking about Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO, the secretary general pointed out that he met with Turkish President Erdogan and they agreed to have a meeting between Finland, Sweden, and Turkiye in Brussels next week. Stoltenberg added that “both Finland and Sweden have delivered on what they promised in the trilateral agreement they made with Turkiye last June in Madrid. So the time is now to ratify and to fully welcome both Finland and Sweden as members.”

Stoltenberg made clear to Finland and Sweden that they are now more secure than before they applied for NATO membership. He said “You are sitting at NATO’s table, and integrating into our political and military structures… NATO has increased its presence in the region; we are exercising more together; and many Allies have given Finland and Sweden security assurances, so it is inconceivable that NATO Allies would not act if your security was threatened.”

*^{Opening speech by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the SAMAK Nordic Summit, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A. (Image Credit: NATO)}*

While speaking about Russia’s decision to suspend the New START Treaty limiting nuclear weapons, Stoltenberg pointed out Moscow’s lack of respect for international norms. He said, “We have to recognize that the end of this war will not be a return to normal in our relations with Russia. There is no going back. In a more dangerous world, we can no longer afford to treat defense as optional. It is a necessity.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also issued a statement with Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Stoltenberg commended the “strong support that Finland has provided to Ukraine” at this critical moment in Russia’s war of aggression.

In his speech, Stoltenberg also commended the Nordic countries for supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defense, and said that this is the morally right thing to do, and also in for joint security interest. The NATO secretary general added, “We must enable Ukraine to deter and defend against future aggression. We must put in place long-term arrangements for Ukraine’s security because Ukraine’s future is in the Euro-Atlantic family.”