Finland: “It will decide in May whether to apply for NATO membership”

In the coming weeks, in May, the Finland will decide whether to apply for NATO membershipsaid in an interview with ERT, the Finnish Prime Minister Sana Marin. “I think the decision will be made in May. We talk for two – three weeks until the decision is made. We have been in this process for a month now. “The Parliament has received the documents that concern this whole situation in Europe, the position of Finland”, the Prime Minister of the country stated characteristically.

Outlining the ongoing process, he noted that seeks the greatest possible consent For this subject. “We seek consensus between Parliament, the government, the President, all parties,” he said.

Explaining the reasons that lead Finland in this directionpointed out that it has to do with security. “The security of Finland, of the Finnish people. “We want to ensure that nothing that happens in Ukraine happens again in Finland.” underlined. He added that everythingThe whole security environment changed when Russia attacked Ukraineand this is why they are discussing in Finland what is its position with this change, in terms of its security.

In the event that Finland applies for NATO membership, it will need the help of all the member states of the North Atlantic Alliance, he added. discussed it during yesterday’s meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “He assured me that Greece supports Finland in this process and if we apply for membership, Greece will support usHe said.

Asked if Finland is ready for Russia’s reaction, and what kind of reactions she expects from Moscow, Sana Marin replied: “Finland is a country that is preparing. We are always preparing for different situations. That is why we have a strong armed forces, we have strengthened our defense for decades. Because we have a strong neighbor, Russia, which has a very difficult history, and we now see that Russia is at war with Ukraine and of course this worries us a lot. We are building our forces and we are also preparing for many different situations and actions from Russia for as long as we wait for our accession, after we make our application and this is ratified. Of course, we have not yet made our decision, but if we do decide to apply, we will have this gray area – period, before all the Member States ratify our entry, as well as that of Sweden. We are concerned about this and we are preparing for various situations and actions on the part of Russia, hybrid attacks, cyber-attacks, various forms of effort on their part to influence Finland. So we are preparing. “

Regarding the security, in the defense, foreign policy of Finland, the Prime Minister of the country said that the decisions have already been made regarding the increase of the expenses for the defense and the security of the country.