Sweden, Finland committed to join NATO at the same time
The prime ministers of Sweden and Finland, who have both applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have confirmed the importance of both countries joining the organization at the same time.
Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership last May in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In order to approve an application, support from all 30 member states is required.
Turkey recently hardened its stance against Sweden, after a leader of a far-right group set fire to a copy of the Koran, the Islamic holy book, in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that he may only approve Finland’s membership.
After Erdogan’s statement, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin held a joint press conference in Stockholm on Thursday.
Kristersson said that his government has produced concrete results on all points of the memorandum signed with Turkey. He said the government has prepared legislation to counter terrorism at Turkey’s request.
Marin said: “Finland and Sweden are part of the same security environment. The earliest possible approval of our NATO membership is in the interest of Finland, Sweden and all of NATO.”
The two countries hope to achieve membership in July, when the NATO summit will be held.
But President Erdogan is expected to continue to take a hard-line stance against Sweden in order to gain domestic support ahead of the presidential election expected to be held in May.