On Sunday, a historic press conference was arranged at the Presidential Palace where President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin told about Finland’s decision to apply for NATO membership.
Sunday, according to President Sauli Niinistö, was historic. ‘A new era is opening,’ he said and praised the Finnish democracy where the people and their opinions, political parties, the government and Parliament have together ‘demonstrated the force of democracy.’ In the picture, President Niinistö at the press conference in the Presidential Palace on May 15, 2022. Photograph: TONY ÖHBERG/FINLAND TODAY
Finland will apply for a membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO.
President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin (the SDP) told about the decision in a press conference at the Presidential Palace on Sunday.
Finland Today reported on the president’s and prime minister’s favorable opinions already on Thursday, but now the president and the government have officially reached a mutual understanding after discussing the matter in the Sunday meeting of the president and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy. In the meeting, the president and the committee finalized a report on Finland’s accession to NATO. (Finland Today publishes the full report in English.)
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (the SDP) said that NATO membership will hopefully prevent any future wars with Russia. ‘We don’t want that kind of future for ourselves, for our children.’ Photograph: TONY ÖHBERG/FINLAND TODAY
Later in the day, after the report had been endorsed in the government plenary session, it was submitted to Parliament.
Before the meeting on Saturday, President Niinistö called Russian President Vladimir Putin to tell him that Finland will apply for the membership. President Putin’s reaction surprised Niinistö.
Putin’s tone was calm.
“His response was just about what could be expected. Putin stated that he thought it was a mistake, nothing has threatened you,” President Niinistö described.
President Niinistö bases his opinion of joining NATO, among other things, on the altered security environment in Finland due to Russia’s attack against its eastern neighbor, Ukraine. Another thing is sovereignty: matters changed in the end of last year when President Niinistö heard Russia demanded that NATO is not allowed to take any new members.
Before that Finland’s decision on non-alignment had been based on free will.
President Niinistö also pointed out that security is not a zero-sum game. “When we improve and maximise Finland’s security, it is not away from anyone else—it will improve comprehensive security.”
Prime Minister Marin said she wants to avoid a possibility of war, and when considering worst case scenarios, such as a nuclear threat, NATO would provide the necessary security in its counter-response.
She called the possible membership an “act of peace that there would ever again be war in Finland.” “We have had wars with Russia, and we don’t want that kind of future for ourselves, for our children.”
“If you know that you have a secure country to live and build and work that has an impact on all of your behavior.”
NATO membership will, according to President Niinistö, result in a ‘protected Finland that is part of a stable, strong and responsible Nordic region.’ Photograph: TONY ÖHBERG/FINLAND TODAY
President Niinistö reminded the members of the crowded press conference that NATO membership also helps create a positive psychological effect.
“If you know that you have a secure country to live and build and work, that has an impact on all of your behavior. Even if you don’t remember it daily. It gives security of mind,” President Niinistö said.
Parliament will consider Finland’s NATO assessment on Monday.
