TELETRADER News
5/12/2022, 9:12 AM
(Source: TeleTrader)
Finland announces intention to join NATO
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto (pictured) and Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced on Thursday the country is planning to seek NATO membership "without delay."
"We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days," Niinisto and Marin said in a joint statement. The Finnish government and parliament are expected to approve the decision in the coming days.
NATO has stated that both Finland and neighboring Sweden will be "welcomed with open arms" should they want to join the alliance. Meanwhile, Russia warned that the two Scandinavian countries could become an area of conflict between the alliance and Russia if they join NATO.