The state visit comes at a time when interest in Finland and Niinistö is unprecedented in Sweden.
17.5. 06:10 • Updated May 17 07:47
President Sauli Niinistö is on a state visit to Sweden today and tomorrow with his wife Jenni Haukion with.
The visit will begin at 11 a.m. Finnish time, when the royal family will receive the presidential couple in ceremonies in front of the Royal Palace.
Researcher specializing in Finnish-Swedish relations Mikko Majander a think tank from Magma predicts that citizens may be seen on the street in Stockholm. Niinistö is on a hard course in Sweden.
– There is no reason to go here for any personal worship, but there is a possibility that through the meetings of the heads of state, the public opinion will also receive symbolic confirmation, Majander says.
He points out that public opinion has been an important force in both Finland and Sweden since the countries ended up applying for NATO membership.
The countries are due to submit their NATO application together today or tomorrow, probably during Niinistö’s visit to Sweden.
King Charles XVI of Kusta there is no role in the Swedish NATO process, and the purpose of the state visit is above all ceremonial.
– This meeting will have extra symbolism when it is timed like this, Majander says.
10 years since the last state visit
Niinistö made his previous state visit to Sweden at the beginning of his first presidency in April 2012.
It is logical that state visits should take place at the beginning and end of the presidency, Majander says. The visit would have been planned without the NATO process, he believes.
The second season of Niinistö will end in early 2024.
Although the heads of state have met in other contexts as well, the state visit has a special significance: relations are more than just day-to-day politics or defense cooperation.
This time, the connection between Finland and Sweden is emphasized, Majander says.
– The meeting has a spiritual dimension of how truly equal neighbors feel a deep sense of belonging and want to show not only through decisions but also in a way that touches emotions.
Researcher: The little brother lifestyle has lived its time
Sweden has never talked about Finland as much as this spring, says Mikko Majander.
He calculates that Niinistö’s New Year’s speech, which began with Finland monitoring, begins. In it, Niinistö highlighted Finland’s NATO option and the fact that Russia has questioned the sovereignty of Finland and Sweden.
Until then, Finland’s NATO position was thought to depend on what Sweden did. The opposite was true: Finland’s solutions affected Sweden.
Majander considers that talking about the little brother-big brother setup is out of date. In security policy in particular, both countries have had a long way to go.
He believes that the Finnish hype will subside in Sweden as the NATO process progresses. He does not believe that the image of Finland, which “pressed” NATO, would survive in Sweden.
– It is clear in Sweden that Finland is applying to NATO regardless of what Sweden does.
In a “more peaceful situation,” the visit would be different
The commander of the Swedish Defense Forces will visit Niinistö on Wednesday at the naval base Micael Bydénin under the leadership and discusses security and defense policy, including the Prince Carl Philipin with. The couple of presidents will also get acquainted with the crisis preparedness co-operation between Finland and Sweden.
At the Swedish Parliament, Niinistö will give a speech today entitled “Responsible, Stable and Strong Nordic Region”.
– After all, it is the wild title of the line speech in this situation, where Finland and Sweden are also uniting the Nordic countries in military policy. The title might have been different if the visit had been made six months earlier, Majander says.
Niinistö will visit the Swedish Prime Minister in the afternoon Magdalena Anderssonin with formal discussions, at the end of which they will hold a press conference.
The President will also meet with representatives of the Swedish economy and cultural life. The Minister of Defense from Finland will take part in the state visit Antti Kaikkonen (center) and the Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä (center).
will watch the state visit all day online and in a special broadcast at 5 pm on TV1, Areena, .fi and Radio Finland.
You can discuss the topic until 11 pm on Wednesday, May 18th.