Finland urges NATO for admission “as soon as possible”

Faced with the possible Russian threat, two European countries are rushing to join NATO urgently in order to benefit from Western protection mechanisms. Finland and Sweden wish to submit a joint application.

Not only do the two countries that are part of the frugal 4 want to be admitted to the Atlantic Alliance, but the two states want their admission to be “as fast as possible”.

Ukraine had campaigned at the start of the Russian military operation for its urgent accession, but this process normally takes many years.

“If Finland and Sweden were candidates, the key issue is to have the shortest possible ratification process,” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said. “That would be the best security guarantee we could have,” she added.

But while waiting for the parliaments of the 30 members of NATO to accept its candidacy, Finland is seeking guarantees of protection between its submission of candidacy and the final response. Helsinki is said to be in direct talks with the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

Sweden, and more specifically Finland, seeks above all the protection of Article 5, which concerns the security umbrella of the military alliance launched by the United States at the start of the Cold War.

Helsinki’s insistence is explained by two violations of its airspace by Russia since the beginning of the year. On Wednesday morning, a Russian military helicopter violated Finland’s airspace, Finland’s Defense Ministry said.