After media outlets reported the two countries could meet in May to decide if they will join NATO, the Foreign Minister of Finland said no date has been set for any potential application.
The Foreign Minister of Finland Pekka Haavisto is in Turkey. The photo was taken by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency.
Haavisto told reporters that it would be useful for Sweden and Finland to join NATO.
It is possible that Sweden's decision could be taken the same days or at least within the same week.
Both countries need to debate the matter, so Haavisto did not give a date for when the two countries will make a decision.
Sweden's Prime Minister said during a press conference this month that there would be a re-evaluation of military neutrality after the 24th of February. While Sweden doesn't border Russia, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea could be a target if conflict broke out in the region.
Russia would have to balance the situation with military and political consequences if Sweden orFinland applied for NATO membership, according to the Kremlin. Russia is prepared to send nuclear weapons to the Baltics if they join the alliance, according to a deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council.
At the start of World War II, Finland declared itself neutral, but the Soviet Union invaded in 1939. The Winter War ended in 1940 when the Soviet Union ceded most of its territory to the country. According to a poll conducted by YleisRadioOY last month, support for joining NATO in Finland rose sharply after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The minister of the country says that it is highly likely that it will join NATO.
Here are the reasons why Finland and Sweden might join NATO.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, the support for joining NATO shot up to 50%.
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