US to address Sweden, Finland concerns over joining NATO

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Today, Thursday, Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby said the United States is sure it will find ways to deal with any concerns Finland and Sweden might have regarding the period between applying for NATO membership and joining the bloc.

The US is ready to give security guarantees to Stockholm until the country makes its final decision on joining NATO, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Wednesday.

"We are confident that we would be able to find ways to address any concerns that either Sweden or Finland might have about the period of time between a NATO membership applications and their potential accession into the alliance," Kirby told a press briefing.

He reiterated that the US has good partnerships with both Sweden and Finland at a military level, and they have all been conducting joint exercises for many years.

"We are confident, given the strong relationships that we have with Sweden and Finland, that we would be able to find ways to address any concerns they might have," he added.

It is worth mentioning that Sweden and Finland are considering applying for NATO membership. A decision is expected in the coming days or weeks.

An expansion of the Atlantic alliance is likely to fuel the situation, as Russia has constantly warned of "consequences" if the Nordic neighbors apply.

On Thursday, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin stated that talks had already taken place with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States and that a quick ratification process would be "the best security guarantee."

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, who concluded a trip to Canada and the United States on Thursday, said in Washington on Tuesday that the US was willing to provide "different kinds of security assurances" during the application process.