Finland wants early NATO membership

Finland hopes for ratification “as quickly as possible” by the 30 members of NATO, in the event of a candidacy alone or with Sweden to join the Atlantic alliance, its Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Wednesday.

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But Helsinki is also conducting discussions with the main countries of the alliance to obtain guarantees of protection during the period of membership which can last several months, she added, citing the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

“If Finland and Sweden were candidates, the key issue is to have the shortest possible ratification process,” Ms Marin told a Nordic leaders press conference in Copenhagen.

“It would be the best security guarantee we might have,” she pleaded.

“But of course, we are discussing specifically with the larger NATO member countries, the security guarantees and the security problems that we might have” during the interim period, affirmed the Social Democratic leader.

Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Helsinki and Stockholm are getting closer to a candidacy, possibly joint, to better protect themselves from their Russian neighbor.

Unanimity is emerging to welcome Finland and Sweden into the ranks of NATO, according to the military alliance, but the ratification process involves a green light from the parliaments of the 30 countries.

Only members of NATO formally benefit from the protection of Article 5, the security umbrella of the military alliance launched by the United States at the start of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

Finnish President Sauli Niinstö is due to make his personal position public on May 12 regarding Finland’s candidacy for NATO, but strong support from public opinion and members of Parliament has already been won.

According to Finnish media, the government’s decision might come in the next few days.

On the Swedish side, the government and the parties in Parliament are due to present a security review on May 13 on the question of membership.

Stockholm is currently conducting consultations with member countries. Its head of diplomacy Ann Linde traveled to the United States on Tuesday and is continuing her visit to Canada.