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Turkey blocks Sweden’s entry into NATO. Finland now wants to move forward – even without the neighboring country.
The leaders of the three northern European countries Norway, Sweden and Finland met on Wednesday for a security meeting. At first glance, they demonstrated unity at the country residence of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said they wanted to go “hand in hand” with Sweden, i.e. at the same time join the NATO military alliance, in which Norway is already a part.
Legend:
After decades of military neutrality, Finland and Sweden have decided to join NATO in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Image: Finnish President Niinistö (right) with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Keystone/AP/Brendon Smialoswki
But this simultaneous accession seems increasingly unrealistic. Turkey still has reservations about Sweden joining NATO, but no longer about Finland joining.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan justifies the blockade with supposed Swedish support for “terrorists” from Turkey.
Finland is pushing for rapid NATO membership
The Finnish President has now conceded that they will not wait for Sweden to join. He would like to see Finland and Sweden join at the same time, said Niinistö. But he also stated: “Unfortunately, ratification is not in our hands.”
Bruno Kaufmann, SRF’s Northern Europe employee, translates the somewhat cryptic formulation: “Fast NATO accession is more important to Finland than synchronizing with neighboring Sweden.”
Legend:
Demonstrative unity of the Nordic countries – at least outwardly: Niinisto (left) with the Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson (centre) and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (right).
Keystone/EPA/Claudio Bresciani
Helsinki is also stepping on the accelerator for security reasons. Because it shares a 1300-kilometer land border with Russia and is also vulnerable via the Baltic Sea. “In view of the unpredictability of the political leadership in Moscow, Finland would now like to get into NATO and security guarantees as quickly as possible,” estimates Kaufmann.
There are also domestic political considerations. New elections will be held in Finland on April 2nd. “By then, the issue should be clarified so that it does not overshadow the election campaign.”
If the Finnish parliament gives the go-ahead next week, Finland will be able to join the western defense alliance. However, two of the 30 NATO countries – Turkey and Hungary – have yet to ratify the admission. Everyone else has already agreed.
“Things could get complicated”
Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson continues to advocate simultaneous accession as it would be beneficial for defense.
“It is known that we have very close military ties outside of NATO, and that was one of the reasons why we embarked on this journey together,” Kristersson said at the media conference in Harpsund, south of Stockholm. “Things could get complicated if one of the countries stays outside while the other joins.”
Legend:
Kristersson describes the current security situation as the most difficult since the Second World War. Accordingly, he is trying hard to get rid of Turkey’s reservations about Sweden’s NATO membership.
Keystone/AP/Pontus Lundahl
According to SRF employee Kaufmann, there are fears in Sweden that going it alone would result in a “security gray area” and that Russia could take advantage of the discord within NATO.
The Swedish government also fears that the debate about giving up neutrality could flare up again in the country if NATO membership drags on. Ultimately, however, one thing is clear to Kaufmann: In an emergency, the western military alliance would already support the country.