Finns Does Not Want to Wait for Sweden’s NATO Application

Finland's political leaders ensure that the country stands firm with Sweden in the NATO process. However, a majority of Finns believe that their home country should not wait with their own accession in the alliance, according to a recent opinion poll by the newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

Just over 1000 people participated in the survey. 53% of these believe Finland should now enter NATO alone, while only 28% believe that the path into NATO should still be taken together with Sweden. The remaining participants have no opinion.

A scenario in which Finland becomes a NATO member, while Sweden must wait for a change in Turkey, would be unfortunate, but not necessarily as critical and limiting in practice, says researcher Håkon Lunde Saxi at the Norwegian Defence University College to High North News.

"Our position is very clear: We move forward in mutual understanding with Sweden and we have regular contact with NATO's headquarters in Brussels, the White House, and Turkey. The aim is that both Finland and Sweden are accepted as members of the alliance as soon as possible," said Finland's President Sauli Niinistö (National Coalition Party) at a press conference on Tuesday.