Germany ready to back Sweden, Finland NATO membership

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that Finland and Sweden can count on Germany's support for their bid to join the North Atlantic Alliance.

Germany's cabinet held a two-day meeting on Tuesday, to which Finland and Sweden's Prime Minister were invited, for security-related talks.

Scholz told journalists that Berlin is closely following debates in both countries on the possibility of joining NATO. "These decisions and discussions must be held there, on the ground, in Finland and Sweden. But it is clear to us that if these two nations decide that they want to join NATO, they can count on our support."

Finnish daily Iltalehti reported on Monday that Sweden and Finland have agreed to both submit membership applications to the US-led NATO alliance as early as mid-May.

The daily said Stockholm suggested that "the two countries indicate their willingness to join" together, and that Helsinki agreed to do so  "as long as the Swedish government has made its decision."

On the Swedish side, Expressen cited that government sources have confirmed the report. The two countries' prime ministers had said that Russia's war in Ukraine changed Europe's "whole security landscape", prompting them to apply for NATO membership.

Finland's prime minister, whose country shares a 1,300 km border with Russia, mentioned on April 13 that the Nordic nation would decide whether to apply for NATO membership "within weeks", and that Sweden is also discussing joining the alliance.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Saturday that Russia's operation in Ukraine prompted Finland and Sweden to join NATO, and their membership in the bloc will make northern Europe more stable and strong.