Finland and Sweden remain united in their application for NATO membership. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin said this at a joint press conference in Stockholm.
“The security of Finland and Sweden is linked,” Marin said. She stressed that the two countries will continue to work together through their application. According to Marin, it is not fair that Sweden is portrayed as “the problem child of the class”, because the country faces resistance from Turkey in joining NATO.
Sweden and Finland have applied for NATO membership in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. All other NATO countries must agree, but Turkey is against it. The country wants Sweden and Finland to extradite people whom Turkey deems Kurdish terrorists or involved in the 2016 coup attempt. Hungary has also not yet agreed to join northern European countries, but is expected to vote this month.
Tensions
Tensions between Turkey and Sweden escalated after far-right politician Rasmus Paludan burned a Koran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm in January. Turkey was ashamed that Paludan was allowed to protest. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Sweden should not count on Turkish support for NATO membership. On Wednesday, Erdogan was positive about Finland’s accession. This puts pressure on Finland to abandon its desire for joint membership with Sweden.
Source: BNR
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