Finland, Sweden set to hold rapid discussions on joining NATO, saying Russia's war changed everything
Finland, Sweden set to hold rapid discussions on joining NATO, saying Russia's war changed everythingSweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson walks with Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin prior to a meeting, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Stockholm, Sweden, April 13, 2022. Paul Wennerholm/Reuters
The mindsets of people in Finland and Sweden — countries in northern Europe that have long remained militarily unaligned — changed and were"shaped very dramatically because of Russia's actions," Marin said, adding,"This is very clear and that caused a need for a process in Finland to have a discussion about our own security choices."
Similarly, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said there was"no point" in delaying an analysis on Sweden possibly joining NATO. Andersson said that Sweden was engaged in a similar process regarding discussions on joining NATO, with the Swedish government set to release a security analysis report by the end of May.