Historic Finnish decision: Government supports NATO membership
(VG): They state this in a press release on Thursday morning.
– NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland will strengthen the entire defense alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership soon, the press release states.
This is the first official confirmation that Finland is applying for NATO membership.
– We expect that the steps that remain nationally will be taken quickly in the next few days, says the Prime Minister and the President in the press release.
According to the Finnish newspapers Helsingin Sanomat and Ithalegti, the decision to apply for NATO membership will be made on Sunday.
“The Great NATO Day”
Earlier this week, the Finnish Parliament’s Defense Committee issued its opinion on NATO membership:: The best alternative for Finland’s security is a membership in NATO, the committee believes.
Thursday is referred to as “The Great NATO Day” in Finland in Ithalehti:
In the 13-hour Norwegian time, the parties in the Finnish parliament are to meet, where the meeting of the largest party in the SDP parliament, the Prime Minister, has been given extra tension. The party has not yet shared its NATO position publicly, but is expected to issue a statement on its position on Saturday.
At 15 Norwegian time, the government will answer NATO questions from parliament.
Will approve soon
When a country applies for NATO membership, it must be approved by all 30 existing member states.
Prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre has previously told VG that Norway, Denmark and Iceland want to be first in the line of NATO countries that formally approve Sweden’s and Finland’s membership in NATO.
VG has previously written that NATO can push down its process to just two weeks – the time between a formal application and a formal invitation to membership from the governments of the 30 NATO countries.
Safety lift
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met the heads of state in Sweden and Finland on Wednesday for new co-operation. Johnson loves military aid to both countries if they are attacked.
Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) told VG on Wednesday that Norway will provide strong support if Sweden and Finland formally decide to apply for membership in NATO.
On Wednesday, VG was able to write that the Nordic countries are working on a joint political declaration which will be part of and support Sweden’s and Finland’s security in the coming months. The backdrop is threats from Russia to work and expand NATO by various means.
In both Stockholm and Helsinki, the political processes with Finland are a few days ahead.
Both countries have said they will coordinate closely because it is easier to stand together and individually against if Russia were to react forcefully to get NATO even closer to its borders.
Sweden’s NATO decision is also expected within a few days.
They state this in one press release Thursday morning.
– NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland will strengthen the entire defense alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership soon, the press release states.
This is the first official confirmation that Finland is applying for NATO membership.
– We expect that the steps that remain nationally will be taken quickly in the next few days, says the Prime Minister and the President in the press release.
According to the Finnish newspapers Helsingin Sanomat and Ithalehti even the decision to apply for NATO membership will be made on Sunday.
READ ALSO: Such are the steps leading up to the NATO search
Støre: Will warmly welcome Finland
Today’s decision by the Finnish president and prime minister is historic. Their clear advice is that Finland exercises its full right to seek security through NATO cooperation. This means that NATO must contribute to Finland’s security and Finland must contribute to NATO’s security, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to VG.
He emphasizes that he has been in close contact with the Finnish President and Prime Minister for several months, and he is confident that they have made a thorough assessment of Finnish, Nordic and European interests.
– If this Council now follows up through application and membership in NATO, Norway will warmly welcome Finland. It opens up for a collaboration that is not aimed at anyone, but which is about safety and security, he says.
Solberg: Due to Russia’s own actions
– It is very positive that European security in Finland will seek membership in NATO, and it has our full support. It will also make Nordic defense co-operation even closer, because we will now be under the same security guarantee and joint planning, in addition to having greater opportunities to utilize our overall basic structure, says Conservative leader Erna Solberg.
She believes that it is obvious in Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine is the direct reason for in Finland when I want to join NATO
“The fact that NATO is now expanding to the east is therefore due to Russia’s own actions,” she says.
– Well, it will be very important in the time between a Finnish membership search and formal incorporation into the alliance will be as short as possible, and Norway must participate in the necessary security arrangements for Finland during this period.
“The Great NATO Day”
Earlier this week, the Finnish Parliament’s Defense Committee issued its opinion on NATO membership :: The best alternative for Finland’s security is a membership in NATO, the committee believes.
Thursday is referred to as “The Great NATO Day” in Finland in Ithalehti:
In the 13-hour Norwegian time, the parties in the Finnish parliament are to meet, where the meeting of the largest party in the SDP parliament, the Prime Minister, has been given extra tension. The party has not yet shared its NATO position publicly, but is expected to issue a statement on its position on Saturday.
At 15 Norwegian time, the government will answer NATO questions from parliament.
Will approve soon
When a country applies for NATO membership, it must be approved by all 30 existing member states.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has previously told VG that Norway, Denmark and Iceland want to be first in the ranks of NATO countries that formally approve Sweden’s and Finland’s membership in NATO.
VG has previously written that NATO can push down its process to just two weeks – the time between a formal application and a formal invitation to membership from the governments of the 30 NATO countries.
Safety lift
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met the heads of state in Sweden and Finland on Wednesday for new co-operation. Johnson loves military aid to both countries if they are attacked.
Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) told VG on Wednesday that Norway will provide strong support if Sweden and Finland formally decide to apply for membership in NATO.
On Wednesday, VG could write at the Nordic countries are working on a joint political declaration which will be involved in and support the security of Sweden and Finland in the coming months. The backdrop is threats from Russia to work and expand NATO by various means.
Both in Stockholm and Helsinki the political process is in full swingwith Finland a few days ahead.
Both countries have said they will coordinate closely because it is easier to stand together and separately if Russia were to respond to force towards getting NATO even closer to its borders.
Sweden’s NATO decision is also expected within a few days. According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen the country will send NATO search on Monday.