Sweden and Finland “agree to both apply for NATO membership in May” despite Russian threats
Sweden and Finland “agree to both apply for NATO membership in May” despite Russian threats
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Two newspapers – one Swedish, the other Finnish – have reported that the Swedish and Finnish governments have agreed to submit NATO applications at the same time and that this will take place in the middle of next month.
The Finnish newspaper Iltalehti said that the Swedish government has expressed a wish to Finland that they apply together during the week beginning May 22, and Swedish government sources confirmed the information to Sweden’s tabloid Expressen.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to growing support in Sweden and Finland, a Russian neighbor, to join NATO.
Even though they are not members, the two Nordic countries work closely with NATO, which means that, among other things, the Alliance’s troops can carry out exercises on their soil.
Helsinki and Stockholm have also greatly intensified their bilateral defense co-operation in recent years, and there was talk earlier this month that the two Nordic territories could try to join NATO in the coming months in the midst of Russian aggression.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (L) welcomes Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin (R) to a meeting on whether to apply for NATO membership in Stockholm, Sweden, 13 April 2022
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