Stockholm, April 13: Finland and Sweden could both seek to join NATO in the coming weeks, warning Europe’s security landscape has “completely changed” in the aftermath of Russia’s onslaught in Ukraine, CNBC reported on Wednesday. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said Wednesday that the Nordic country, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, would decide on whether to join the U.S.-led military alliance “within weeks.” Addressing a joint conference alongside Sweden’s Magdalena Andersso in Stockholm, Marin said: “Everything changed when Russia invaded Ukraine.” “I think people’s mindsets in Finland, also in Sweden, changed and [were] shaped very dramatically because of Russia’s actions,” Marin said. “This is very clear and that caused a need for a process in Finland to have a discussion about our own security choices.” Andersso told reporters that the same “very serious analysis” was taking place as in Finland and she saw no point in delaying it. “We have to analyze the situation to see what is best for Sweden’s security for the Swedish people in this new situation. And you shouldn’t rush into that, you should make it very seriously,” she added. The remarks are the strongest indication yet that the two Nordic countries could swiftly seek to join the military alliance. Marin pointed out that NATO membership offered Finland, which shares a 1,340km border with Russia, the security guarantee of Article Five, whereby an attack on one member is viewed as an attack on all. It is noteworthy that Moscow has warned Finland and Sweden against joining NATO in recent weeks. (UNI)
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