Finland’s president Sauli Niinistö and prime minister Sanna Marin have today called for the country to apply for NATO membership „without delay”. The candidacy will be formally announced on Sunday, France Presse reports. Sweden has said it will announce a similar decision on the same day. „NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance” the two officials said in a joint press release. Having been submitted to a forced form of neutrality by Moscow during the Cold War, Finland joined the EU and NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme, but remained outside of the alliance. The decision to join NATO comes against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland shares a 1,300-km border with Russia.
Eugen Cojocariu, Radio Romania International
