Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Finnish President Sauli Niinistö that it was a mistake for Finland to abandon its neutrality and join NATO, Bloomberg and BBC reported.
On the 14th (local time), Finnish President Ninistö made a phone call to Putin informing him that Finland would join NATO. Earlier on the 12th, Finnish President Ninistö announced his intention to join NATO in a joint statement with Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
After the call, the Kremlin issued a statement saying that Putin had stated that “it was a mistake for Finland to end its traditional military neutrality policy in the absence of any threat to Finnish security”. He added: “The change in the political orientation of these countries might have a negative impact on relations between Russia and Finland, which have been working together as good neighbors and partners.”
Finland’s President Ninistö said in a statement that “the call with Putin was direct and frank and did not aggravate the situation.”
Bloomberg predicts that Sweden’s decision to apply for NATO membership, which maintains a neutral country route like Finland, will also be made as early as the 15th. Sweden’s ruling party has already received parliamentary approval for NATO membership on the 14th, and it is expected that a decision will be made soon.
Sauli Ninistö, President of Finland[사진=로이터·연합뉴스]
On the other hand, it is pointed out that Turkey’s continued opposition to NATO accession may become an obstacle for Finland and Sweden to join NATO, as all member countries must vote in favor of joining NATO.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on the 13th that he had a negative view of NATO membership, saying that terrorists, such as supporters of Kurdish militants, were taking refuge in Sweden and Finland. Turkey has complained that NATO and its European allies are not sufficiently sanctioning Kurdish militants that the United States and the European Union have classified as terrorist organizations.
However, in an interview with Finland’s YLE TV1 on the same day, President Ninistö mentioned that Turkey may change its position in the future. He said, “[President Erdogan’s position]was contrary to the message Turkey had sent so far,” he said.
Earlier on the 13th, President Ninistö had a phone call with US President Joe Biden and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson regarding security cooperation. In a phone call at the time, President Biden said he supported both countries’ accession to NATO.
- reporter information
- Hye-won Jang
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