Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

Finland President, PM in favor of joining NATO 'without delay'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 May 2022 18:55
4 Min Read

A special committee will announce Finland's formal decision on a NATO membership bid on Sunday.

  • x
  • Finland's president and prime minister
    Finland's President and Prime Minister

Finland's President and Prime Minister stated on Thursday that they are in favor of joining NATO, and a formal decision will be taken this weekend.

The Kremlin immediately responded to the announcement, saying Finnish membership in NATO was "definitely" a threat to Russia.

Neighbouring Sweden, which like Finland has been military non-aligned for decades, is also expected to announce its decision in the coming days, very likely at a meeting on Sunday of Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson's Social Democratic Party.

"Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay," President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin stressed in a joint statement.

"NATO membership would strengthen Finland's security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance," the statement read.

Russia warns of consequences

A special committee will announce Helsinki's formal decision on a membership bid on Sunday, it added.

Moscow has repeatedly warned Stockholm and Helsinki of the consequences if they were to join NATO.

Niinisto told reporters on Wednesday that "joining NATO would not be against anyone."

76% of Finns support joining NATO

In the same context, a poll published on Monday by public broadcaster Yle showed that a record 76% of Finns now support joining NATO, up from the steady 20-30% registered in recent years.

Related News

Ex-Swedish PM: Finland entering NATO first 'not good for Sweden'

Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson resigns, right-wing bloc wins elections

A country of 5.5 million people, Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border with Russia.

Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen pointed out Thursday a NATO bid would "significantly raise the threshold for Finland to be the target of a military attack."

"This is a defensive solution that threatens no one," he wrote on his blog.

Kaikkonen said he hoped Sweden would come to the same conclusion and "we could apply for membership together."

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde told news agency TT that "Finland's decision is naturally of great importance to Sweden" and said her government would announce its decision "soon". 

European Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter that Finland joining NATO would "greatly contribute to European security. With Russia waging war in Ukraine it's a powerful signal of deterrence."

Finland could be NATO member "at the earliest" on Oct. 1

Finland and Sweden have long cooperated with NATO and are expected to be able to join the alliance quickly.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that Finland's entry would be "smooth and swift."

The next step is for Finland's President and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy -- a body made up of the President, Prime Minister, and up to six other cabinet ministers -- to meet on Sunday.

The committee will make the formal decision on whether to submit a Finnish application.

The proposal will then be presented to parliament for a debate, which is expected to take place on Monday. 

After an official bid is submitted to the alliance, negotiations get underway. Lawmakers in all 30 NATO member states then need to ratify Finland's application, a process that can take months.

Foreign Minister Haavisto said on Tuesday he believed Finland could be a full NATO member "at the earliest" on October 1.

As candidate countries are not covered by NATO's Article 5 mutual defense agreement, both Finland and Sweden have sought assurances from NATO members that they would be protected while awaiting full membership.

  • Magdalena Andersson
  • Nato
  • Finland
  • Europe
  • Russia
  • European Council
  • Helsinki
  • EU
  • Sweden
  • Charles Michel
  • Nato Alliance
  • Jens Stoltenberg
  • Ukraine
  • Sanna Marin
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS