There have been an increase in rumors in Sweden that Finland’s pace of NATO is too hard for Sweden to make such a big decision. Many want the country to have an in-depth NATO debate at its own pace.
22.4. 17:35 • Updated April 22nd. 17:54
MALMÖ Finland is exporting and Sweden is trying to keep up. This has been the case in the NATO debate throughout the spring.
One of the following from the venue is the Finnish-Swedish Heidi Avellanwho is the editor-in-chief of the leading newspaper in southern Sweden in Sydsvenskan.
He has worked in Sweden since the 1990s. Avellan was a correspondent for Politiken in Denmark and HBL in Finland before moving to Sydsvenskan. He is a sought-after commentator in the Swedish media.
Finland is a key factor in the country’s NATO debate. This has led to Swedes starting to see Finland differently than before.
– Until now, the image of Finland has been mainly drunkards, fish roosters and knife fights. Finland has been like a little cousin of a country that has been looked down upon. Now that has changed, Avellan rejoices.
There is a fateful link between Finland and Sweden that decision-makers are talking about respectfully. This tone of speech has also increased Finland’s esteem among ordinary people.
The image of Finland began to change when the president Sauli Niinistö New Year’s Eve speech made alarm bells ring in Sweden as well.
Sweden woke up to the fact that Finland changed its course towards Russia.
Sauli Niinistö has a clear image of Russia in the eyes of Swedes and an active grip on security policy, which, according to Avellan, Swedish decision-makers have missed.
At the beginning of the year, the government and decision-makers began to monitor Finland’s movements in the NATO debate.
The Finns, for their part, closely involved Sweden in the NATO process.
“So Finland has helped Sweden make up for the initial delay,” says Avellan.
It could have happened to him anyway. There has been a lot of suspicion in Finland towards Sweden since the 1990s EC decision. The Swedish government unexpectedly announced that it was applying for membership of the European Union without informing Finland in advance, although this had been agreed.
– Someone in Finland could have thought of being given back now. In Finland, however, the connection between Finland and Sweden has always been wisely emphasized.
Criticism of the rush is growing
Finland’s traction assistance has not gone unnoticed by anyone.
In Sweden, there is talk every day about how important it is for the country to travel to Finland if Finland applies for NATO membership.
In recent days, however, there have been more and more public questions about whether Sweden is too busy.
Yesterday, it was announced that Sweden will bring forward the deadline for the country’s security policy report from the end of May to mid-month. The pressure to change the schedule will also come from Finland, where the corresponding report was completed before Easter.
Those who hesitate or oppose NATO membership want the country to have a thorough discussion of the country’s security policy status at its own pace, not Finland’s.
For example, Finland’s well-known former chairman of the Environmental Party Maria Wetterstrand said this week that Sweden needs more time (switch to another service). Finland can move forward quickly because the people know Russia and security policy better than the Swedes.
Finland can become a scapegoat
Heidi Avellan, editor-in-chief of Sydsvenskan’s policy, takes the demands of a wide-ranging debate seriously.
– If the decision on NATO membership is rushed in Sweden, there is a risk that they will regret it afterwards, he says.
Such a debate may lie ahead as the security situation calms down and NATO membership materializes for the people. There may be a situation in which Sweden feels that it would have been possible without accession.
– That’s when the scapegoats are sought.
The destination can be found in its own decision-makers – or in Finland.
– It may be said that Finland was shooting and at the same time forcing Sweden to join us without having the opportunity to have a proper discussion.
Finland and Sweden should have joined Avellan a long time ago in a situation where the decision should have matured in peace as a result of a wide-ranging debate.
– Now this is not possible and it is very unfortunate, although I hope both countries will end up submitting an application, he says.
The position of the Social Democrats is open
Like many other social debates, Heidi Avellan believes that the Swedish Social Democrats end up supporting NATO membership.
However, he wants to remind Finns that it is not certain. The party is broad and must be fully involved.
– It is possible that members are not yet ripe for this change. It may be that Swedish non-alignment thinking is so deep in the Social Democrats that it cannot be overcome, he says.
According to Avellan, if Finland joins NATO and Sweden is excluded, the situation in Northern Europe will be very difficult.
It has been thrown in the Swedish debate that Sweden would be safe around NATO then.
Most reacted to this, saying that then Sweden would act cowardly and invertebrate. Many refer to the Swedish line during World War II.
– However, it is better to talk about this in advance and not afterwards, says Avellan.
In Sweden, the Social Democrats are now having an internal debate on their NATO position. The discussion is expected to be completed by the summer.
Many Social Democrats who are hesitant are holding back the fear of retaliation.
What if the decision to bow to Finland turns out to be wise?
– That is when it is said in Sweden that we did make a good decision. There is no praise for Finland then, Avella laughs.