NATO logo banners in front of the organization's headquarters in Brussels. File photoTOKYO, May 13 Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, in an interview with Japan's NHK, said his country would apply for NATO membership «in the middle of next week».
" If there is a decision of the parliament, then we will do it in the middle of next week. Sweden is also considering the same dates", the minister said about the deadlines for filing a formal application for joining NATO.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Matti Vanhanen said that the country's parliament will start discussing the country's possible entry into the North Atlantic Alliance on Monday, 16 May. Haavisto stressed that Finland «wants peace on the border (with Russia), but we must be prepared for the fact that anything can happen.» The minister believes that the transition before joining the alliance is «really dangerous», but given the support of Britain and other European countries does not think that «there will be some kind of confusion, although you need to be prepared for this situation.» commented on the desire of Sweden and Finland to join NATOFinland and Sweden intend to apply for membership in NATO in connection with the events in Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly noted that NATO is aimed at confrontation. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov stated that further expansion of the alliance would not bring greater security to Europe, NATO has an aggressive character. At the same time, he noted that he did not consider the possible entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO an existential threat to Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Finland's entry into NATO would be a direct violation of the international legal obligations of this country.
We are very NATO. What will happen if the Swedes and Finns join an alliance