Finland formally announces to apply for NATO membership

Finland on Sunday formally announced that the country will seek the membership of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).

President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the announcement from a joint press conference at Presidential Palace in the afternoon.

"This is a historic day," Niinistö said in the press conference, adding that Finland was entering a new era, which was also echoed by Marin.

"These decisions will strengthen, not weaken, our security," the Prime Minister said.

Earlier, the President and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy on Sunday morning finalised a report on Finland’s Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), said a government statement, adding that the report will be submitted to the Government in plenary session in the afternoon , and will be submitted to Parliament once it has been adopted.

The application, to be filed within the next two or three days, marks a dramatic shift in Finnish security policy, away from its traditional military non-alignment.

Replying to a query regarding the remarks made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday where he said that it was not possible for Turkey to support the possible NATO membership applications by Finland and Sweden, Niinistö said that such remarks made him confused.

Referring to his recent phone call with Erdogan, Niinistö said that Erdogan assured to support Finland´s NATO membership application.

Niinistö told that he will communicate further with his Turkish counterpart in this regard.

NATO membership application needs to be approved by all 30 member countries.

The President also informed that Saturday's telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin was calm on both sides.

According to Niinistö, Putin stated that in his view Finland was not under threat and Finland´s decision to joining NATO was “a mistake".

He pointed out that previously Putin and recent remarks by Russian authorities were different to this time Putin´s remark as he did not issue any threat.

Meanwhile, Marin replying to another query said that Finland is well prepared for any possible Russian retaliation in response to the application.

"Finland is a nation of preparedness, as we have seen during the pandemic," she said, adding that "the decisions we're making this week will ensure that there will never again be a war in Finland."

Earlier, President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Thursday stated their positions in favour of Finland´s possible application for NATO membership.