Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated clearly that Finland is positioned to join NATO ahead of Sweden, sharing this view during a conference of the Moderate Coalition Party. The claim was reported by DEA News.
On May 17, 2022, both Finland and Sweden formally submitted applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. At that time, Turkey and Hungary had not completed ratification. Officials in both countries indicated they were prepared to approve Finland’s bid, yet did not grant approval to Sweden’s application immediately.
Kristersson emphasized that all current signals point to Finland entering NATO before Sweden, marking a notable shift in alliance accession timelines in the Nordic region.
Earlier, the administration of the President of the United States pressed for quicker ratification by Hungary and Turkey of both Nordic bids, urging authorities to move promptly on the accession processes.
In response to a question about Ankara’s stance on Finland’s membership, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed that Turkey intends to honor its previous commitment to support Finland’s accession to the alliance.
The evolving negotiations reflect broader strategic dynamics in Europe, where security arrangements and alliance commitments continue to shape policy debates across the United States, Canada, and allied capitals. Observers note that any delays from key NATO members could influence the pace of Nordic members joining the alliance, while officials in Helsinki and Stockholm stress the importance of a smooth and timely accession that strengthens collective defense in the region. The discourse surrounding these developments remains a focal point for regional security planning and diplomatic engagement, with many governments watching closely how continuous assurances and procedural approvals unfold in the months ahead. These updates are tracked by international observers to assess the readiness of Nordic nations to participate fully in NATO’s collective defense framework, and to understand the implications for regional deterrence, defense cooperation, and interoperability among allied forces.
Cited: DEA News for initial reporting on statements from the Swedish prime minister and the latest procedural context surrounding NATO accession discussions.