Finland wants to join NATO and Sweden will follow shortly. The respective parliaments in the two Scandinavian countries will meet on Monday for debates. In this regard, Velina Tchakarova, director of the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy, spoke of a “historic turning point”. Because a redesign of the European security architecture “is exactly what the Russian president actually wanted to prevent,” she said in the “ZiB 2” on Sunday evening.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced in Helsinki on Sunday that Finland would apply to join the military alliance. The Finnish parliament has yet to approve the move, but a majority is considered safe. Niinistö spoke several times of a “historic day” for the Scandinavian country. “A new era is dawning,” the president said.
Finland has been non-aligned for decades and shares a 1,300 kilometer border with Russia. Joining the military alliance was long considered unthinkable – after all, the Finns did not want to alienate their great eastern neighbor. But Moscow’s war of aggression in Ukraine has led to a rethink among politicians and the population.
Marin: ‘Russia has changed a lot’
“Everything changed with the Russian attack on Ukraine, and personally I think we can no longer count on a peaceful future next to Russia and alone,” Marin said. About possible Russian reprisals, she said: “Of course we are prepared for all possible actions.”
Sweden says goodbye to decades of neutrality
In Sweden, the ruling Social Democrats have also voted in favor of the country joining NATO. In doing so, they pave the way for an application for admission and say goodbye to decades of neutrality. However, the party had already made it clear that it would not support nuclear weapons or permanent NATO bases on its country’s territory.
The Social Democrats’ decision has received wide approval in parliament and large sections of the opposition have already expressed their approval. A decision can be expected Monday after the debate in the Reichstag in Stockholm.
It is now eagerly awaited when the two Scandinavian countries will officially apply to join the military alliance. Both heads of government had emphasized the importance of a joint approach to the problem. Andersson had even talked about a joint application.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
