# Finland, Sweden to begin NATO application in May, say local media reports
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-04-25
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Finland and Sweden to announce NATO application plans in May
Meta Description: Reports suggest Finland and Sweden will announce plans to join NATO in May, amid increasing security concerns in the wake of Russian aggression.
URL: https://financedigest.com/finland-sweden-to-begin-nato-application-in-may-say-local-media-reportshtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-04-25t185956z1lynxnpei3o0rhrtroptp4ukraine-crisis-sweden-finland-1736815834605-compressed.jpg)

HELSINKI (Reuters) -Finland and Sweden will together express their wish to join NATO in May, tabloid newspapers Iltalehti in Finland and Expressen in Sweden reported on Monday, citing sources close to the matter.

Despite tightening cooperation with the military alliance since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the Nordic countries had both opted to stay out. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a “special operation”, has forced Sweden and Finland to examine whether their longstanding military neutrality is still the best means of ensuring national security.

According to Iltalehti, the leaders of Finland and Sweden plan to meet in the [week](https://www.financedigest.com/meta-plans-to-cut-thousands-of-jobs-as-soon-as-this-week-bloomberg-news.html "Meta plans to cut thousands of jobs as soon as this week – Bloomberg News") of May 16 and after that publicly announce their plans to apply to join the alliance.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto declined to comment, but repeated his longstanding view that he would prefer [Finland and Sweden](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-sweden-to-send-teams-to-turkey-to-discuss-nato-bids-haavisto-says.html "Finland, Sweden to send teams to Turkey to discuss NATO bids, Haavisto says") made similar choices.

Swedish daily Aftonbladet reported separately, citing sources close to Swedish government offices, that the United States and Britain had promised Sweden increased military presence, more in-depth military exercises and ‘strong [political’ support](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-financial-watchdog-urges-political-support-for-crypto-bans.html "UK financial watchdog urges political support for crypto bans") from NATO countries” during a possible NATO application process.

The Swedish foreign [ministry declined to comment on Expressen’s and Aftonbladet’s reports](https://www.financedigest.com/german-economy-expected-to-skirt-recession-economy-ministry-report.html "German economy expected to skirt recession – economy ministry report").

Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin said two weeks ago, while visiting her Swedish counterpart Magdalena Andersson, that she expected [Finland to make its decision whether to apply for NATO](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-will-join-nato-on-tuesday-stoltenberg.html "Finland will join NATO on Tuesday – Stoltenberg") membership within weeks.

Stockholm is conducting a review of security policy, which includes a view on possible [NATO membership](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-steps-in-finnish-swedish-path-to-nato-membership.html "Factbox-Steps in Finnish, Swedish path to NATO membership"), with the results due by mid-May.

Separately, [Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats are also reviewing their long-held objection to NATO](https://www.financedigest.com/nato-deal-with-turkey-greeted-with-caution-and-concern-in-sweden.html "NATO deal with Turkey greeted with caution and concern in Sweden") membership. That is [expected at the latest](https://www.financedigest.com/institutions-need-to-consider-spreadsheet-management-to-meet-the-pras-latest-stress-testingexpectations.html "Institutions Need to Consider Spreadsheet Management to Meet the PRA’s Latest Stress Testing Expectations") by May 24.

(Reporting by Essi Lehto and Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Alex Richardson)


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---