The two countries, which decided to apply for membership in the military alliance under the impression of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, want to submit their membership applications together. Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö and the Finnish government have already decided to submit an application. The Finnish parliament finally voted on Tuesday. 188 MEPs voted in favor of accession, only eight voted against.
Shortly beforehand, Linde announced on Twitter that the Swedish application had now been officially signed. “It feels big, it feels serious, it feels like we’ve ended up doing what we think is best for Sweden,” said Linde. Both countries want to submit their applications to NATO together on Wednesday.
Sweden signs NATO application
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde has signed her country’s NATO membership application. This will now be sent to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as soon as Finland has signed an application.
“Side by our brother country”
Sweden’s King Carl XVI. Gustaf stressed his country’s intention to join NATO “at the same time and in agreement with Finland”. “This is a historic step that we are taking side by side with our brother country,” he said at a press conference with Niinistö in Stockholm on Tuesday. Niinistö had previously arrived in the Swedish capital for a two-day state visit.
The challenges of war meant “opportunities for consensus and deeper cooperation to stand together even more,” the monarch said. Niinistö added: “Our security policy line has been a similar one for a long time. And even now, when the situation requires it, we are taking our steps together.”
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden finally wants to receive Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Niinistö in the White House. According to the new White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, the meeting in the US capital, Washington, wants to talk about the NATO bids.
Asselborn: Turkey is about fighter jets
But Turkey apparently wants to stick to the threat of a veto. On Monday evening, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the two states would “not say yes” to NATO accession, and that Finland and Sweden would not even have to send delegations. Erdogan accused Sweden on Monday of being a “hotbed” for terrorist organizations.
Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn accused Erdogan of having a “bazaar mentality”. One knows how bazaars work in Turkey, said Asselborn on Tuesday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. “And sometimes the mentality, especially Erdogan’s, is shaped by it.” According to Asselborn, Turkey is not, as claimed, about the Kurdish question, but about the delivery of F-16 fighter jets.
Lavrov sees no big difference
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sees little difference should Sweden and Finland join NATO. The two countries, like other neutral states, have been taking part in NATO maneuvers for years, Lavrov said.
“NATO takes its territory into account when planning military advances to the east. So in that sense, there probably isn’t much of a difference. Let’s see how their territory is used in practice in the North Atlantic Alliance,” Lavrov said.
Russia expelled diplomats
Meanwhile, Russia expelled two Finnish diplomats, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Russia is against Finland’s confrontation against the country, it said. Finland had previously expelled two Russian diplomats. The Kremlin accused the West of waging war against Russia. “They are enemy states. Because what they are doing is war,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday while appearing at an education conference near Moscow.
President Vladimir Putin had previously spoken of an economic “lightning war” in view of the Western sanctions. The Russian leadership calls its own war of aggression against Ukraine, which has now lasted almost three months, a “special military operation”. Peskov said the West was waging a diplomatic, economic and political war against his country.
“In fact, we are now experiencing a perfect storm and the moment of truth.” Russia must show that it is able to protect its interests. “But every war ends in peace. And that peace will be such that our voices are heard where we are comfortable, safe, and standing firmly on our feet.” The “perfect storm” is a figurative term for a disaster in which all the negative factors come together.