Sweden’s security ties with Finland “closer than ever”, says PM
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson
Photo: AFP
Security co-operation between Sweden and Finland is “closer than ever” as the two militarily non-aligned nations reconsider their policies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
“The security situation has changed dramatically,” Andersson told a joint news conference with his Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin in Helsinki on Saturday ahead of their meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and the two nations’ defense ministers.
“Cooperation between Sweden and Finland in the area of defense has been closer and closer for a number of years,” says Andersson. “We are seeing closer cooperation now than we have seen, perhaps closer than ever.”
The Prime Minister declined to comment on potential membership in NATO’s defense bloc, while saying that there were no direct military threats to any of the Nordic countries.
Saturday’s meeting comes after the debate on joining NATO has intensified in both nations that have stayed out of military alliances despite deepening their security cooperation with NATO and the United States in recent decades. Both countries have seen a historic change in attitudes towards NATO since Russia’s attack, with about half of the population now supporting entry.
Niinisto met with President Joe Biden on Friday, and the presidents called Andersson after agreeing to start a “clear process” to improve security and defense cooperation, which also involves Nordic partners, according to comments from the Finnish president. Andersson said that she told Biden that Sweden is also interested in close cooperation with the United States.
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