Leaders say Finland must apply to join NATO ‘without delay’

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto addresses a press conference at the Presidential palace in Helsinki, Finland on May 11, 2022. (FRANK AUGSTEIN / POOL / AFP)

HELSINKI – Finland must apply to join the NATO military alliance "without delay", Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Thursday, a major policy shift triggered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Finland, which shares a 1,300 km border with Russia, has gradually stepped up its cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a partner since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

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But until the conflict in Ukraine, the Nordic country had refrained from joining in order to maintain friendly relations with its eastern neighbor. 

"Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay," Niinisto and Marin said in a joint statement.

Sweden's ruling Social Democrats are expected to decide on Sunday whether to overturn decades of opposition to NATO membership, a move that would almost certainly lead to Sweden also asking to join the 30-nation alliance

"We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days."

NATO allies expect Finland and Sweden to apply to join the alliance in the coming days and will grant membership quickly, five diplomats and officials told Reuters ahead of the Finnish announcement.

Baltic countries, which were once ruled from Moscow and are now members of NATO, welcomed Finland's announcement.

"Finland decided to join the Alliance. NATO is about to get stronger. Baltics about to get safer," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.

The view among Finns on NATO has changed rapidly since Russia initiated what it calls a "special operation" in Ukraine.

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Finnish public support for joining NATO has risen to record numbers over recent months, with the latest poll by public broadcaster YLE showing 76 percent of Finns in favor and only 12 percent against, while support for membership used to linger at only around 25 percent for years prior to the conflict in Ukraine.

Finland's rapid shift towards NATO is likely to pull along neighboring Sweden.

Sweden's ruling Social Democrats are expected to decide on Sunday whether to overturn decades of opposition to NATO membership, a move that would almost certainly lead to Sweden also asking to join the 30-nation alliance.

Russia has repeatedly warned both countries against joining the alliance. As recently as March 12 its foreign ministry said "there will be serious military and political consequences" if they do.

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In March, Finland's government initiated a security policy review and delivered a report for parliament to discuss in April, while also holding discussions with all parliamentary groups to secure backing for the decision to join the treaty.

In parallel with the domestic process, Finland's president and prime minister have toured NATO countries to win their support for Finland's membership.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has previously said it would be possible to allow Finland and Sweden to join "quite quickly".

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