Decision regarding NATO within weeks: PM

Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Wednesday said that Finland will take decision regarding NATO membership application quickly and the decision will be taken within weeks, not within months.

"I won't give any kind of timetable when we will make our decisions. But I think it will happen quite fast. Within weeks, not within months," Marin said at a joint press conference after a meeting with her Swedish counterpart Magdalena Andersson in Stockholm.

Marin and Andersson discussed how to strengthen the security of Finland and Sweden in the changed security environment, said a government press release.

The security situation in Europe has changed fundamentally following Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

In their discussions, the prime ministers highlighted the fact that Finland and Sweden share the same security environment and that the countries’ security solutions affect one another.

Both Finland and Sweden are now working to ensure the security of their citizens over the short and long term.

Marin told Andersson about the report on changes in the current security environment, which the Finnish government submitted to Parliament on Wednesday.

The report includes an assessment of how Finland can strengthen its national defence capability and develop international defence cooperation with its partners, the closest of which is Sweden. The report also assesses the effects of possible NATO membership.

“Parliament must assess what kind of security Finland’s potential NATO membership would offer. We must be very open to all of the consequences and risks involved. There are risks over both the short and long term. There are risks, if we apply for membership and, if we do not,” Marin said.

In their meeting, the Premiers also assessed the prospects for exerting influence on Russia through national and EU-level measures, the most important of which are the sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia.

Finland and Sweden are supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainians in their fight in many ways, including by supplying weapons to the Ukrainian army.

The EU is currently considering stepping up its support, including through military assistance.