Finland has no intention of allowing NATO to base or nuclear weapons on its territory after joining the alliance, the prime minister said.
“The issue of NATO deploying nuclear weapons or opening a base on the territory Finland are not part of our membership discussions. Nor do I think anyone has the intention of deploying nuclear weapons or opening a NATO base in Finland,” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in an interview published today.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin during a press conference in the Italian capital Rome on May 18. Image: AFP.
The Finnish Prime Minister is visiting Rome and meeting his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi, during which Marin said that disagreements over Finland’s NATO membership can be resolved through dialogue. “I think at this stage it is necessary to stay calm, discuss with Turkey and other member countries, answer questions that may exist and clear up misunderstandings,” she said.
Prime minister Switzerland Magdalena Andersson previously also affirmed that Stockholm does not want NATO to have a permanent base or nuclear weapons on its territory.
Finland and Sweden on May 18 applied to join NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, ending the policy of neutrality that the two countries have maintained for a long time. Mr. Stoltenberg has repeatedly affirmed that the two Nordic countries will be welcomed by NATO with “open arms”, but the immediate obstacle for them is objection of Turkey, a member state of the bloc.
Turkish officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the country demanded that Sweden and Finland publicly condemn the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and related armed groups before joining NATO. In addition, Ankara will ask Washington to remove sanctions related to the contract of S-400 missiles purchased from Russia in 2019.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 16 did not criticize Finland and Sweden for applying to NATO, but warned that the expansion of military infrastructure on the territory of these two countries would trigger a response from Moscow. “Specific action will be based on the threat they pose to Russia,” Putin said.
Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev warned last month that Moscow would be forced to restore the military balance by strengthening its defenses in the Baltic region, including deploying nuclear weapons there. if Stockholm and Helsinki join NATO.
Seven decades of NATO advance in Europe. Graphics: Statista.
Vu Anh (According to Reuters)
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