Finland prepares to apply for NATO membership

According to information from Iltalehti newspaper, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin plans to add an announcement outside the country on Thursday.

After that, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and the Committee on Foreign and Security Policy (TP-Utva) are expected to decide on a Finnish request during the first two weeks of May.

After that, the resolution must also be voted on by the Finnish Parliament.

NATO must have promised to protect

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said earlier that several NATO organizations had offered their support to Finland during a potential submission. During a meeting earlier on Thursday with foreign ministers of NATO countries, Haavisto said the Finnish position on the request would be taken “in two weeks”.

Neither Pekka Haavisto, nor any other representative of the Finnish government, has confirmed Iltalehti’s information about the application’s far-reaching plans.

But, according to Taliti, he confirms the information that there are preparations for the operation reported by the newspaper – if necessary.

After meeting with the foreign ministers of NATO countries on Tuesday, Pekka Haavisto said that during the meeting he received information that the preparation of the Finnish membership application will take between four months and a year.

For Finnish membership to become a reality, the parliaments of existing member states must approve the application.