Finland’s President Defends Decision to Pursue NATO Accession Bid Without Sweden

In May 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spurred Finland and its neighbor, Sweden, to apply for NATO membership.

While the two Nordic countries initially planned to join the alliance together, recent developments have forced Finland to proceed with its NATO accession bid without Sweden.

Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö recently defended the country’s decision to do so, stating that rejecting ratification by Turkey would have been “crazy” and “very problematic” for Finland.

Turkey’s approval of the ratification process was crucial for Finland’s NATO accession, as the country is one of the two remaining NATO members yet to approve the application. Hungary is the other country that has yet to approve the applications.

Niinistö emphasized that Finland had always planned to join NATO alongside Sweden, but the decision ultimately lay with the remaining NATO members.

Despite the setback, the Finnish President expressed confidence that Sweden would also be able to join the alliance in due time.

The decision to proceed without Sweden has sparked some controversy within the Nordic region, with some expressing concerns about the potential impact on regional cooperation.

However, Finland maintains that joining NATO is necessary for ensuring the country’s security in an increasingly unstable geopolitical climate.