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Finland’s president and prime minister announced support for NATO membership this Thursday, taking the Nordic country, which shares an 800-mile border with Russia, one step closer to joining the US-led military alliance.
The declaration of support for NATO by President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin was expected, as the Finnish government recently submitted a report on national security to the country’s parliament, which outlined the path to alliance membership as one of Finland’s options.
In a joint statement, Niinisto and Marin said: “NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a NATO member, Finland would strengthen its entire defense alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that national steps are still needed for this decision to be taken quickly in the coming days.”.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, public support for NATO membership in Finland has risen from about 30% to almost 80% in some polls.
Once parliament has approved the idea in principle and any other domestic legislative barriers have been removed, NATO is expected to invite Finland to negotiate its accession.
Sweden, Finland’s neighbor in the west, is also expected to announce its intention to join the alliance soon through a similar process.
Russia has warned both countries against NATO membership, saying there would be consequences.
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