The security situation in Europe has changed dramatically and if Finland does not apply now to join NATO, the threshold for joining the alliance may rise in the future. This was expressed by Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto. DEA News”.
“Finland has been talking for years that it is ready to consider membership (to NATO) if the security situation changes. Now, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the security situation in Europe has changed dramatically. What would have to be worse for Finland to consider joining NATO?” he added, adding that the threshold for applying to join the alliance could rise in the future.
Discussions on NATO membership began this week in the Finnish parliament. According to this YLEJoining the alliance is supported by 114 out of 200 parliamentarians.
Erkki Tuomioja, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland saidHe said the country would apply for NATO membership in the coming weeks. He also noted that he considers it important to inform the representatives of Sweden, another country that is considering joining the alliance, about this issue.
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde spokethat the country can speed up the process of reviewing a potential NATO membership bid by completing political party-level negotiations by 13 May. He noted that the possible participation of Finland in NATO as Sweden’s closest ally would have an impact on the security of the state, so they tried to coordinate the steps of the parties in this regard.
Source: Gazeta
