Communist organizations in Finland and Sweden have called on their respective governments to maintain neutrality in foreign policy and refrain from pursuing NATO membership in the light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Finnish Communist Party (SKP) and the Swedish Communist Party (SKP) expressed concern about their governments’ intention to join NATO’s war alliance. On 13 April, at a joint press conference in the Swedish capital Stockholm, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson stated that Europe’s security landscape had changed drastically since the start of the war in Ukraine, and that a decision to apply for NATO membership could be expected. earlier.

Both Sweden and Finland have pursued a policy of neutrality towards the agenda of the United States and the then Soviet Union, later Russia, since the beginning of the Cold War. Despite significant pressure from center-right sections to join NATO, Finland and Sweden have committed themselves to formal neutrality for a long time. But the ongoing war in Ukraine has caused an increase in militarism and Russophobia in the region, and sections of the Social Democratic parties in the two countries have begun to take root after NATO membership.

On April 16, JP Väisänen from the Finnish Communist Party reported The people’s mailing that his party is clearly opposed to Finland’s possible NATO membership and the strengthening of any plans to join military alliances in the EU. “World crises, conflicts and wars need countries and regions to stay away from great powers such as the United States and Russia and their conflicts, to act as a neutral and respected functionary to facilitate necessary dialogue and find mutual steps in understanding and peace-building,” he said.

“SKP opposes the increase of the Finnish military budget and the deal for F35 fighter jets. We are on the side of the European peace movement and demand more resources to build civil society peace and participatory initiatives. SKP is against the Russian war in Ukraine but we also see Russia as a neighbor and not an enemy, ”he added.

Saturday, April 16 in his statement to The people’s mailingAndreas Sörenson from the Swedish Communist Party said that “since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, militarism has increased and pro-NATO propaganda has been transmitted throughout the media landscape. These steps have prepared the ground for the formal membership of Sweden in NATO, something we see as a very dangerous development.”

“We oppose our country’s membership in NATO, because it not only strengthens Swedish imperialism, but also consolidates the imperialist bloc NATO-EU-US. This in turn places Sweden at the forefront of the aggravating conflict, which makes its people a possible target in future conflicts, and further escalates the contradictions inherent in the capitalist-imperialist system, he added.