Ex-NATO Secretary General: “Finland and Sweden could join NATO overnight” | News
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Finland has a “window of opportunity”.
Anders Fogh Rasmussenwhich led NATO from 2009-2014, is appealing to Finland to join the military alliance now while Russia is focusing on Ukraine.
Finnish and Swedish offers to join NATO would also send a powerful message Vladimir Putinaccording to Fogh Rasmussen in an interview with Radio Free Europe.
“NATO is prepared to welcome both Finland and Sweden. I would say that an application from Finland and Sweden could be approved more or less overnight.”
While the Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin (SDP) has said that all decisions on NATO membership must be carefully considered, Fogh Rasmussen called on Finland to take swift action.
“I think it would be in Finland’s and Sweden’s self-interest to join NATO right now. Because now they have a window of opportunity. Putin is committed [somewhere else]so that window can soon be closed again, “he told the US government-funded organization.
On that front, Fogh Rasmussen said that a Finnish and Swedish membership in the alliance was important to send a “clear signal that NATO’s door remains open and that NATO will never accept Putin as a doorman”.