Finland’s president and the Prime Minister said, on Thursday, they were in favour of joining NATO and a formal decision would be taken this weekend, after Russia’s war in Ukraine sparked a swift u-turn in opinion.
“Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay,” President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement.
Niinisto has often served as a mediator between Russia and the West.
“NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance,” the statement said.
A special committee will announce Finland’s formal decision on a membership bid on Sunday, the statement added.
The two leaders had been widely expected to come out in favour of joining the Western military alliance.
