The two Nordic countries have announced since the start of the process that they intend to join NATO together, and it is this unity that they will once again display with the Finnish President’s state visit to Sweden.
With our correspondent in Stockholm, Frederic False
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö will spend two days in the Swedish capital. There is no doubt that his speech, devoted to extolling the merits of a ” responsible, stable and strong northern region “, will be scrutinized. As well as his visit to the naval base of Berga, or to the MSB, the Swedish civil security agency. Since they decided to join NATO together, Sweden and Finland have wanted to display an unfailing union, between them, but also within their own countries.
Stand up against Vladimir Putin
In Finland, 76% of the population wants to join NATO. In Sweden, the consensus is less obvious. So Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson chose to display this unity in another way, yesterday holding a joint press conference with the leader of the right-wing opposition. Something that hasn’t been seen since the 1990s.
Both countries want unite against a Vladimir Putin who said he did not see “ immediate threat in their membership of NATO… Adding, however, that any military deployment would trigger an immediate response from Russia.