In the Finnish delegation led by President Niinistö, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen will participate in the summit.
Defense alliance NATO’s summit begins today in the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius. The main topics of the two-day meeting are the strengthening of the relationship between NATO and Ukraine and the alliance’s new defense plans against the Russian threat.
On the eve of the meeting, however, Sweden’s NATO membership took the main attention. General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said late yesterday the president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to promote Sweden’s membership. Before this, Erdogan had negotiated with the Prime Minister of Sweden by Ulf Kristersson with.
Stoltenberg did not comment on Turkey’s approval schedule, but stated that Erdogan had promised that Sweden’s membership would be submitted to the Turkish parliament for approval “as soon as possible”.
Regarding Sweden’s membership project, the situation looked confused even earlier on Monday. The situation was confused by the statement of Erdogan, who was leaving for Lithuania, where he unexpectedly linked the realization of Sweden’s membership to the resumption of Turkey’s EU membership negotiations.
Erdogan also met the president of the European Council in Vilnius during his negotiations with Kristersson Charles Michelin.
In a press release published by NATO, it was said that Sweden has agreed to promote the revival of Turkey’s EU membership process. In addition, the parties had agreed on a new bilateral communication format in security matters.
Finland’s first NATO summit as a member
Finland will participate in the NATO summit in Vilnius for the first time as a member of the alliance. Finland is represented in Vilnius by the president Sauli NiinistöMinister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (collector) and the Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen (collect.).
Also the President of Ukraine to Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to arrive at the table of NATO leaders. Zelenskyi has demanded a clearer promise from NATO about Ukraine’s admission to NATO membership in time.
How NATO’s closer relationship with Ukraine will eventually be shaped in the final document of the summit is probably the most interesting question of the meeting in Vilnius.
The summit can be seen everywhere in the streetscape of Vilnius. In addition to the flags of NATO and Lithuania, there are plenty of blue and yellow flags of Ukraine in various parts of the city.
The security measures are also extensive, for example there are police officers at practically every intersection. Patriot anti-aircraft missiles guard the sky near Vilnius airport.