NATO is pressuring Sweden, Finland by stating immediacy to grant membership, says Russia – Russian Politics & Diplomacy
MOSCOW, 21 JANUARY. /PAW/. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s recent statement on the US – led bloc’s immediacy in granting membership to Finland and Sweden is a ruthless attempt to increase the pressure on them in foreign policy, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in response to collected media questions. for the top diplomat Sergey Lavrov’s press conference. The ministry’s response was published on its website on Friday.
“We see NATO Secretary – General’s comments on the Alliance’s willingness to grant membership to these countries as a ruthless attempt to put external pressure on Finland’s and Sweden’s policies, with which we share long-standing friendships and whose effective contributions are neutral. much “, the ministry pointed out.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also stressed that maintaining an alliance-free status “is the most effective way for countries to ensure their security” “in these turbulent times.” “We expect NATO to adhere to its promise to provide a written response to our draft agreement with the Alliance,” the ministry said.
Stoltenberg previously said that Sweden and Finland can join NATO very quickly, provided that those countries decide to apply. “They meet NATO standards in most areas. They have very well-organized and well-run defense and security institutions. In many ways, of course, they are very close to NATO in all aspects,” the NATO chief claimed. Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, in turn, stated that Finland is not currently discussing NATO membership.