The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Johnson is visiting Finland and Sweden ahead of NATO’s decision
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson will visit Finland and Sweden on Wednesday as they prepare to announce their position on possible applications for NATO membership in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Downing Street said.
The topic of the trip is “not just Ukraine, but security in Europe more generally,” said a spokesman for Johnson, who has been one of the most active European leaders in the West’s response to the Moscow invasion, which began on February 24.
“We support democratic opportunities to decide on matters such as NATO membership,” the spokesman continued. “We understand the positions of Sweden and Finland and that is why the Prime Minister will discuss these broader security issues.”
Both countries are considering joining the Security Alliance to take advantage of its collective defense: NATO regards an attack on one member as an attack on all members.
In Finland, where 76% of the population is now in favor of NATO membership, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö will, according to a Monday survey by the public service company Yle, publish his “personal” position on the issue on Thursday.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democratic Party is expected to announce its position no later than Saturday.
In Sweden – which is more dubious than Finland – the ruling Social Democratic Party, whose green light would ensure a clear majority in parliament for membership, has said it will announce its decision as early as Sunday, about ten days earlier than originally planned.
The Kremlin has warned of “military and political repercussions” if Swedes and Finns decide to join NATO.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president who is deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said last month that it would force Moscow to strengthen its military presence in the Baltic Sea region.
Moscow has reportedly already relocated part of its arsenal, including nuclear missiles, along the border with Finland and in the Kaliningrad enclave – sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania – in response to growing Finnish and Swedish interest in joining NATO.