Sweden and Finland to further strengthen security cooperation
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HELSINKI, March 5 (Reuters) – Sweden and Finland will further strengthen their security cooperation in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both countries’ prime ministers said on Saturday, but were non-commitments to join NATO.
“Russia’s war against a sovereign European nation puts the European security system at risk. In this changing security environment, Finland and Sweden will further strengthen our cooperation,” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters in Helsinki at a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister. Magdalena Andersson.
Sweden and Finland have strong historical ties and close military cooperation, including joint exercises and information exchange.
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The invasion, called a “special military operation” by Russia, has also forced a rapid change in attitudes towards NATO in both countries, which are currently outside the NATO alliance.
Recent polls show a majority in favor of joining NATO in both countries for the first time ever. Marin said that it is “understandable” that more people in both Sweden and Finland now want to join NATO. read more L2N2V712H
“We are now having this discussion in Finland,” said Marin. “We will have these discussions within Parliament, with the President, within the government and between the parties.”
In Sweden, the ruling Social Democrats have long resisted calls from the center-right opposition to join NATO. Andersson said that it was natural for the discussion to come up again, but avoided questions about Sweden joining the military alliance.
– The security situation has changed in a dramatic way, says Andersson. “I have met the party leaders from the other Swedish parties several times in the last week and we are discussing a number of issues,” she said.
The two countries already work closely with NATO and are invited to all consultations on the Ukraine crisis. Secretary-General Stoltenberg said in January that they could join the alliance “very quickly” if they decided to apply for membership.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Friday that the United States and the Nordic countries would “initiate a clear process to intensify defense and security co-operation” after a meeting with US President Biden that included a call to Magdalena Andersson. Read more
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Reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki and Johan Ahlander in Stockholm; Edited by Catherine Evans and Christina Fincher
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