Atlantic alliance
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Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Niinistö have spoken for the first time officially in favor of Finland’s candidacy for NATO membership. The formal decision must be given on Sunday.
It was an open secret, it’s now official. The Finnish executive wants to bring his country into NATO “without delay”. “Being a member of NATO would strengthen Finland’s securitywrite this Thursday President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin in a joint press release. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the alliance as a whole.” The formal decision, taken by a Council on Security and Foreign Policy, bringing together the Head of State, the Prime Minister and several ministers, will be given on Sunday during a press conference by this same tandem.
The testimonials of support were not long in coming. With in the first place the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, who welcomed this position by promising that the accession process would be “smooth” and fast. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also announced the “full support” of Germany to a possible candidacy. Just like France where the Elysée says it supports “fully sovereign choice” from Finland. Finally, American elected members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Democrats and Republicans alike, promise in turn to support the membership process: “If Sweden and Finland decide to apply for NATO membership, this committee is already working to ensure a quick vote”declares its Democratic president, Bob Menendez.
This statement…