Sweden, Finland take ‘historic’ steps toward NATO membership

Less than three months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the announcements are a stunning reversal of the two Nordic countries' military non-alignment policies, dating back more than 75 years for Finland and two centuries for Sweden."This is a historic day. A new era is opening", Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Sunday.The turnaround by her party, which has opposed NATO membership since the birth of the alliance, secures a firm majority in Sweden's parliament in favour of joining.The issue had divided the Social Democrats, with some members expressing concern that the decision was being rushed through.According to recent polls, the number of Finns who want to join the alliance has risen to more than three-quarters, almost triple the level seen before the war in Ukraine began on February 24.NATO membership needs to be approved and ratified by all 30 members of the alliance."Turkey made it clear that its intention is not to block membership," Stoltenberg told reporters virtually after alliance foreign ministers met in Berlin.Cavusoglu meanwhile lauded Finland's conciliatory approach in their talks, but criticised Sweden's foreign minister for "provocative" statements.Turkey's objections, directed in particular at Stockholm, focus on what it considers to be the countries' leniency towards the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is on the EU's list of terrorist organisations.Niinisto said he was "prepared to have a new discussion with President Erdogan about the problems he has raised"."We hope the parliament will confirm the decision to apply for NATO membership during the coming days. It will be based on a strong mandate," premier Marin said."Hopefully, we can send our applications next week together with Sweden," Marin had said on Saturday.But the concept of full NATO membership was a non-starter in the countries until the war in Ukraine saw public and political support for joining the alliance soar.Finland is also Sweden's closest defence cooperation partner.- Moscow's warnings -Moscow has repeatedly warned both countries of consequences if they join the alliance. Niinisto said Sunday that while Helsinki is prepared for a Russian response, "little by little, I'm beginning to think that we're not going to face actual military operations."Former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb told the BBC on Sunday that Putin was "the reason we're joining" NATO....

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May 15, 2022 at 10:57PM
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Less than three months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the announcements are a stunning reversal of the two Nordic countries' military non-alignment policies, dating back more than 75 years for Finland and two centuries for Sweden."This is a historic day. A new era is opening", Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Sunday.The turnaround by her party, which has opposed NATO membership since the birth of the alliance, secures a firm majority in Sweden's parliament in favour of joining.The issue had divided the Social Democrats, with some members expressing concern that the decision was being rushed through.According to recent polls, the number of Finns who want to join the alliance has risen to more than three-quarters, almost triple the level seen before the war in Ukraine began on February 24.NATO membership needs to be approved and ratified by all 30 members of the alliance."Turkey made it clear that its intention is not to block membership," Stoltenberg told reporters virtually after alliance foreign ministers met in Berlin.Cavusoglu meanwhile lauded Finland's conciliatory approach in their talks, but criticised Sweden's foreign minister for "provocative" statements.Turkey's objections, directed in particular at Stockholm, focus on what it considers to be the countries' leniency towards the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is on the EU's list of terrorist organisations.Niinisto said he was "prepared to have a new discussion with President Erdogan about the problems he has raised"."We hope the parliament will confirm the decision to apply for NATO membership during the coming days. It will be based on a strong mandate," premier Marin said."Hopefully, we can send our applications next week together with Sweden," Marin had said on Saturday.But the concept of full NATO membership was a non-starter in the countries until the war in Ukraine saw public and political support for joining the alliance soar.Finland is also Sweden's closest defence cooperation partner.- Moscow's warnings -Moscow has repeatedly warned both countries of consequences if they join the alliance. Niinisto said Sunday that while Helsinki is prepared for a Russian response, "little by little, I'm beginning to think that we're not going to face actual military operations."Former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb told the BBC on Sunday that Putin was "the reason we're joining" NATO....