The decision on membership would also open the door to political protection already during ratification, Stoltenberg said.
BRUSSELS Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg reiterated at a meeting with Nordic journalists that a political decision on Finland’s NATO membership could be made very quickly if necessary.
Stoltenberg discussed with the foreign minister Pekka Haaviston (Greens) at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
Among other things, Stoltenberg expressed his interest in the ongoing preparations in Finland. According to Stoltenberg, there is no ambiguity about the positions of NATO countries.
– I am sure that the 30 members of NATO will warmly welcome Finland as a member of NATO and that we can make a decision quickly, Stoltenberg said at the journalists’ meeting.
According to Stoltenberg, the decisive factor is the decision to invite Finland to join NATO. This will be done upon receipt of a potential application. According to Stoltenberg, the decision opens the door to political protection.
The approval of a new member state in all national parliaments is a longer process. Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto estimates that the process could take 4–12 months.
– I can’t give exact weeks or days to go to make a decision. But the very decision on the wish to welcome Finland to NATO can be made very quickly and then it is a formal process in the capitals or parliaments to ratify it.
Stoltenberg said he understood that an overtime related to a possible process raises questions. However, the time between the submission of an application and political approval can be very short.
The Secretary General was also asked whether he sees Russia’s possible actions as a threat to Finland’s membership process.
Stoltenberg said Russia protested whenever NATO expanded. Nevertheless, the number of members of the Defense League has doubled since the end of the Cold War.