Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Property Management Titi Tupurainen spoke to the media ahead of a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels, Belgium, on 22 February. (Thierry Monas / Getty Images)
“It is very likely that Finland will apply for NATO membership,” said the Finnish Minister for European Affairs.
Speaking to CNN on Monday, Titi Tupurainen said a decision has not yet been made, but called the nation’s likely membership a “very natural response” to Russia’s war in Ukraine. She added that if her country did apply, she hoped “the ratification process will be as short as possible”.
“Of course, we would prefer to have a neighborhood based on friendship and cooperation,” she said. “But it is Russia that is distancing itself from the security order, and it is Russia that has started a war in Europe. It is Russia that has invaded Ukraine. Now people are seeing this new reality and it’s time to join NATO. “
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö is expected to give a personal opinion on Thursday on whether to seek NATO membership, which is expected to be followed by a statement by Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
Upcoming decision: Tupurainen told CNN that most political parties in the country have already discussed the issue. The Social Democrats – Marin and Tupurainen’s party – will meet on Saturday to make their decision, which will be guided by Marin’s announcement.
“Now that the country’s leader is about to decide on NATO’s candidacy, we can say with good arguments that the whole country is ready for it,” Tupurainen said, noting strong public support in Finland for joining the defense alliance. .
A message to Moscow: Russia has warned it will respond if Finland, with which it shares a border more than 800 miles away, joins NATO.
The Kremlin is not dictating our decisions, “Tupurainen told CNN, adding that” it would be in Russia’s best interest to act like an adult in this situation. “
“Now we have seen what kind of country Russia is and what kind of regime it has. She has a ruthless dictator as her leader, “she said. “We no longer have any illusions about what he is doing… and now we know that he can wage a war that is as despised, ruthless and brutal as one can imagine.”
Finland is a longtime NATO partner, something that US and NATO officials have said, expressing support for the nation’s membership if it decides to apply.
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