Sweden and Finland NATO membership could be approved in just two weeks — Report
Sweden and Finland can have their NATO membership approved in just two weeks, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Wednesday, after reports that the countries will jointly express their desire to join the military alliance this month.
Støre tells the Norwegian tabloid newspaper World Gang (VG) NATO has started a process that could bring Sweden and Finland into the alliance in quick succession, should the two countries apply to become members.
It comes after tabloid newspapers Iltalehti in Finland and Expressen in Sweden reported on April 25, citing sources close to the matter, that the leaders of the two nations intend to meet the week of May 16 and will then announce their plans to apply to join NATO.
The Kremlin has warned Finland and Sweden to do so, saying that a possible accession of the countries to the military alliance would not create stability in Europe.
Newsweek has contacted NATO, and officials in Russia, Sweden and Finland, for comment.
This is a development story and will be updated.