Marine Finland Prime Minister "Will Decide NATO Membership Within Weeks"

Swedish Prime Minister Andersson Also Says "Will Decide on Membership After Careful Situation Analysis"

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (left) and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on the 13th (local time) that she will decide whether to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) within weeks. Marin made the remarks after meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson in Stockholm on the same day. Andersson also expressed her intention to carefully consider and then decide on the membership.

According to CNBC, Marin held a joint press conference with Andersson and said, "Everything changed when Russia invaded Ukraine," adding that she would decide on NATO membership soon. She added that it would not take several months to make the decision. This is interpreted as her intention to decide on membership by May at the latest. Accordingly, the Finnish parliament is expected to discuss NATO membership after the Easter holidays.

While Norway in Northern Europe is a NATO member, Finland and Sweden have maintained cooperative relations rather than joining as members, emphasizing a neutral stance. However, Marin said, "I think the thoughts of not only Finns but also Swedes have changed significantly because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine." In fact, public opinion in Finland and Sweden in favor of joining NATO has increased significantly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Andersson showed a relatively cautious stance. She said, "I agree that the security landscape has completely changed and that this is a historically very important moment," emphasizing, "We need to analyze the situation to find the best choice for the Swedish people in this completely changed environment."

The Swedish ruling Social Democratic Party, to which Andersson belongs, has traditionally maintained a negative stance on NATO membership. However, with the general election scheduled for September, it is difficult to ignore the recent rise in public opinion supporting NATO membership.

Recently, local Swedish media predicted that Andersson would support NATO membership by June.

Andersson stated, "There is no reason to delay the analysis," indicating that she does not intend to postpone the decision on NATO membership for too long.