Sweden also expected to announce soon its decision to join alliance
“must apply for Nato membership without delay”, the membership proposal is expected to be laid before parliament for ratification on Monday.
Niinistö called his Russian counterpart, Putin, on Saturday and informed him his country aimed to join Nato, in a conversation he described as “direct and straightforward”. He added: “Avoiding tensions was considered important.” Russia has repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden against joining Nato, saying such a move would oblige it toby strengthening its defences in the Baltic Sea region, including by deploying nuclear weapons.
Putin responded to Niinistö’s call by saying Nato membership “would be a mistake, since there is no threat to Finland’s security”, according to a readout of the call released by the Kremlin. After a cross-party Swedish parliamentary review on Friday said joining Nato would boost Sweden’s national security and help stabilise the Nordic region, leaders of the country’s ruling Social Democrats were also poised on Sunday to jettison the party’s longstanding opposition to Nato membership.that – assuming Helsinki sends its application in on Monday – Stockholm is likely to follow suit as early as Tuesday, with the alliance set to launch the accession process immediately afterwards.
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