Finnish PM Marin: we are not discussing the possibility of joining NATO
Sanna Marin. Photo: Vincent West / Reuters
The Finnish government is not considering joining NATO in the near future. Prime Minister of the Republic Sanna Marin stated her unwillingness to join the alliance in an interview with the newspaper El Pais.
“We are not discussing this possibility [of joining the alliance] now, but we reserve the opportunity to do so in the future – in case we decide so. In recent years, we have become very close to NATO, and our main security structure is the European Union,” the politician said, noting the importance of EU cohesion for a “convincing response” to Russia in the event of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
Marin pointed out that Russia’s response to Western sanctions had an impact on Finland, but commercial relations between Helsinki and Moscow continue.
Earlier, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto denied plans to join the alliance. According to him, Helsinki does not plan to change course in international politics. “Finland is not discussing the possibility of joining NATO with Brussels, besides, it does not have such a project,” Haavisto stressed.
