According to Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (green), there are also military grounds for Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership at the same pace. Haavisto participates in the traditional foreign and security policy seminar in Sälen, Sweden.
Pirjo Auvinen,
Petri Burtsoff,
Jussi Nurminen
14:09•Updated 15:14
SÄLEN Minister Haavisto participates in the traditional foreign and security policy seminar in Sälen, Sweden. The fell landscapes are enchanting: endless amounts of snow both on tree branches and in the terrain.
This time, the first part of the three-day seminar deals with NATO. The prime minister of Sweden’s right-wing government is also present Ulf KristerssonMinister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström that the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg.
Haavisto’s short opening speech made it clear that Finland and Sweden’s simultaneous application for NATO membership is about more than the politeness of the neighboring countries.
According to Haavisto, the defense forces would not have the same depth without Sweden, because according to Haavisto, Finland and Sweden form a unified defense strategic entity.
According to the minister, this is how the matter is also seen in NATO and the United States, where the applications were confirmed at the same time.
No nuclear weapons on Finnish soil
Haavisto also took a stand on the discussion about NATO-Finland and nuclear weapons.
According to Haavisto, Finland did not set preconditions for the membership application because it did not want to narrow down its operational possibilities. But according to Haavisto, it is clear that nuclear weapons will not enter Finland’s soil even after membership is realized.
According to Haavisto, Finland’s NATO membership will strengthen both EU and NATO cooperation and Nordic cooperation.
But according to Haavisto, the main lines of foreign policy will not change, but the EU will continue to be Finland’s main partner in foreign policy, and the fundamental pillar of cooperation is the realization of human rights.
Stoltenberg: Russia’s brutal actions in Ukraine are not surprising
According to NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, Russia is carrying out brutal warfare in Ukraine, which is familiar from other conflicts during the reign of President Vladimir Putin.
Stoltenberg commented on Russia’s military actions at the Swedish Sälen security conference.
– The brutality of Putin’s war against Ukraine has shocked many, but has not surprised. It matches a pattern we have seen for many years, Stoltenberg said, listing as examples Russia’s actions in Chechnya, Georgia and Syria.
He reminded once again that Russia started the war in Ukraine already in 2014.
Prime Minister Kristersson: Sweden has no conditions for NATO membership
Speaking at the Sälen conference today, Prime Minister Kristersson repeated the country’s earlier message that Sweden has no conditions for joining NATO.
According to Kristersson, this also applies to placing nuclear weapons on Swedish soil. However, he does not consider it likely that nuclear weapons will be placed in Sweden.
Kristersson said Sweden would significantly increase its defense spending and invest in the country’s armed forces.
Turkey has slowed down the ratification of Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership and demanded various concessions as a condition. Kristersson denies estimates that Sweden would give in to Turkey in everything it asks for.
According to Kristersson, Turkey has asked Sweden for things that it cannot do in order to ensure the ratification of NATO membership. He is still convinced that Turkey will eventually give its approval.
– They have asked for things that we cannot and will not give, Kristersson said.
Sweden promises additional support to Ukraine
According to Kristersson, other countries must show Russia that time is on Ukraine’s side and continue to support Ukraine in the war.
He promises that Sweden will continue providing military aid to Ukraine.
According to Kristersson, new aid packages are coming. Sweden has given Ukraine nine aid packages so far.
More on the topic:
The foreign minister’s visit to Ankara did not seem to promote Sweden’s NATO efforts – Turkish foreign minister: “Sweden is not even halfway there”
The Constitutional Law Committee will outline only after the epiphany whether NATO membership can be accepted in the parliament with a simple majority