Boris Johnson will fly to Sweden and Finland for safety talks
The two countries are considering joining NATO following the Russian president’s attack on Ukraine.
Becoming part of the military alliance would be a major geopolitical shift for the Nordic nations.
Finland can publish a membership offer within a few days, according to local reports, while Sweden is currently reviewing whether to join.
Finland shares a border with Russia, and the Kremlin has repeatedly warned of “serious consequences” if the two countries join the military alliance, including the possible deployment of nuclear weapons in its Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad.
Speaking ahead of Johnson’s trip, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It is not just about Ukraine but about broader security in Europe.
– This is about meeting other democratic countries and discussing issues such as security that are important both here and abroad.
“We support a country’s democratic ability to decide on things like NATO membership.”
Just a few days ago, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said it was “unthinkable” that Britain would not support Finland or Sweden if any of them were attacked, whether they were members of NATO or not.
He made the comment when he spoke at a press conference in Niinisalo, Finland.
In response to questions from the media, he said: “It is inconceivable that Britain would not come to the aid of Finland or Sweden if it was ever attacked.
“[That’s] Without any major formal agreement. We are European countries that share the same values, which have a deep, long history, a significant number of the British population seems to be descended from Vikings.
“We have that cultural link. I can not imagine a time when we would not come to support Finland and Sweden, no matter where they were with the NATO debate and where they are with agreements.”