Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, 73, has been hospitalized with “prolonged symptoms of Covid-19”, his office said on Tuesday. The Head of State “feels reasonably well and continues to work remotely”, said his services. A news that comes at the time since Finland plans to file its candidacy for NATO.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, 73, has been hospitalized with “prolonged symptoms of Covid-19”, his office said on Tuesday. The Head of State “feels reasonably well and continues to work remotely”, said his services.
His illness was diagnosed on April 19, leading to the cancellation of a visit to Norway.
Finland plans to apply for NATO
This hospitalization comes at a time when Finland, a Nordic country which shares a border of 1,300 kilometers with Russia, plans to submit its candidacy to NATO. In the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow threatened to strengthen its military, including nuclear, assets in the Baltic region if Finland or Sweden joined the US-led military alliance.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said during a visit to Sweden in mid-April that the decision whether or not to submit a candidacy would be made “in a few weeks”. President Niinisto should go to Sweden on May 18, where a candidacy for NATO is also being debated.
Many analysts are counting on a candidacy from Finland, and perhaps from Sweden, quickly enough for the NATO summit at the end of June in Madrid.