The cross : Is Finland prepared to become a full member of NATO without Sweden?
Henri Vanhanen: Finnish leaders, whether President Sauli Niinistö or Prime Minister Sanna Marin, have underlined their desire to join NATO with Sweden at the same time throughout the bid process. This priority has not changed: if the accessions of Finland and Sweden are not ratified at the same time by Hungary and Turkey, it is not their responsibility. To imagine that the blockage of Sweden still lasts, Helsinki would continue its process of membership, while supporting Stockholm to be joined as soon as possible.
Finland is in full campaign for the general elections on April 2. Can she afford to wait for her Swedish neighbor?
H. V. : President Sauli Niinistö still has to ratify parliament’s decision; he said he could wait a while before doing so, but not forever. He clearly pointed to the April 2 election as a deadline. At present, more than 80% of Finns are in favor of NATO membership, and more than 50% of them believe that Finland should go ahead and join the Alliance as soon as possible. . Given popular opinion, it would be very difficult for decision-makers not to complete the accession process.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson lobbied for military cooperation “very complicated” with Finland in the event of separate accession. What do you think ?
H. V. : I believe that Finland and Norway will continue to have close defense cooperation with Sweden, whatever the circumstances. It is a process that is not new. Finland and Sweden have strengthened their relationship politically and militarily since 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine. Helsinki and Stockholm have declared that their bilateral military cooperation will extend from peace to war.
Sweden would be the last Nordic country not to be part of NATO: what does that mean?
H. V. : If Sweden remained only a guest country of NATO, but surrounded by NATO members, it would in any case be the best guarantee of security for the country during the last two hundred years. Again, this is not the desired scenario. The United States always supports the early joining of the two countries. The pressure on Ankara and Budapest is significant, as well as the defense cooperation provided to Finland and Sweden since last year, the time of accession.
Can the American administration still influence Turkey so that the two Scandinavian countries are embarked together?
H. V. : We know that the Turkish-American relationship is not simple. The two countries have, however, nurtured a continuous dialogue, bilaterally, throughout the process of Finland’s and Sweden’s accession. Washington’s important role is recognized by all. Many believe that if Turkey is allowed to procure American F-16 fighters, it will solve the problem of ratifications. It is not that simple, and the process will also involve efforts at dialogue between Stockholm and Ankara on the file of the Kurds in Sweden.