prime minister Sanna Marin (SDP) and his Swedish counterpart Magdalena Andersson held second-day talks with the host German Chancellor Olaf Scholz near Berlin on Tuesday.
The war in Ukraine and the pending NATO decisions in the two Nordic countries dominated the negotiations and the three-way press conference.
In his comments at the 18th-century Schloss in Meseberg, Marin said the timing of the meeting was "perfect", when Finland and Sweden are making significant security policy decisions. Marin said the discussions had been confidential and unique.
“No return”
"We have the same security environment and our choices are interdependent," Marin said.
"The Russian invasion has completely changed the security environment." he added. "There is no return."
Marin further noted that Russia is seeking a world based on power-centric interests.
According to Marin, Russia has made it clear that it does not respect European security architecture or international law, but tries to dictate the decisions of others.
He said that Finland appreciated Germany’s leadership in the EU’s unified response to Russia, adding that sanctions were already taking effect, but needed to be expanded.
"German leadership is now more important than ever," he told a news conference.
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“NATO’s open door policy more important”
"NATO’s open door policy has become increasingly important to us all." Marin said.
German Chancellor Scholz said that Germany would support Finland and Sweden if they decide to join the alliance.
"If these two countries decide to join NATO, they can count on our support," Scholz said after hosting the leaders of Sweden and Finland.
Marin stated that Parliament will decide whether the country will apply for NATO membership or whether it will continue on its current path. Since last autumn, the government has described Finland as a so-called "a non-military state that maintains a credible national defense capability".
Marin said his SDP party will announce its position on May 14th.
Almost all other parliamentary parties have already supported the membership application, with the exception of the SDP and their governing coalition, the Left Alliance. The Finnish leaders have expressed the hope that Finland and Sweden will be able to make their decisions in parallel, possibly later this month.
Marin said he was in constant contact with his Social Democrat fellow Andersson to coordinate parallel processes in neighboring countries.
The other three Nordic countries – Denmark, Iceland and Norway – have long been members of NATO.
Speaking to Finnish journalists after the meeting, Marin said that Finland has had an active dialogue with major countries on possible security guarantees for the period between a possible application and full membership.
Foreign minister Pekka Haavisto (Green) has estimated that this period can last from four months to one year.
From Berlin, Marin will head to Copenhagen to meet with other Nordic prime ministers at a summit with the Prime Minister of India. Narendra Modi on wednesday.
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Source: The Nordic Page