Erkki Tuomioja said that the proposal came up after the military alliance NATO became a strong alternative after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Swedish Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist (S) denies Hufvudstadsbladetin (move to another service) information that he would have nominated a Member of Parliament Erkki Tuomioja (sd.) Finnish-Swedish Defense League as an alternative to the countries’ NATO membership.
Hultqvist says he does not intend to comment on the confidential discussions.
According to Tuomioja, Hultqvist had also discussed the proposal with the Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen (center). STT did not reach Kaikko to comment on the matter on Saturday night.
Tuomioja said that the proposal came up after the military alliance NATO became a strong alternative after Russia invaded Ukraine.
– At that time, there has also been interest in alternative ways of proceeding, Tuomioja tells HBL.
Tuomioja did not say his NATO position last week
Tuomioja tells HBL that he believes that Finland will submit an application for NATO membership within a few weeks or months. He hopes that Finland and Sweden will keep the same in their decisions.
Erkki Tuomioja said For BTI (you switch to another service) at the beginning of April that it does not intend to state its own position on Finland’s NATO membership. Tuomioja has previously opposed membership.