Category: Finland

Turkey Opposes Finland and Sweden Joining NATO: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country opposes Finland and Sweden joining the military alliance after both nations’ leaders announced they would pursue it. “First of all, we would not say ‘yes’ to those who impose sanctions on Turkey to join NATO, a security organization, during this process,” Erdogan said Monday, according to state-run…


Sweden Officially Announces Bid for NATO Membership, Gets Backing From Top US Lawmaker

Sweden on May 16 officially announced that Sweden will apply to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), quickly drawing support from a top American politician. “The government has decided to inform NATO that Sweden wishes to become a member of the alliance,” Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told reporters in Stockholm. “And very soon, Sweden’s NATO ambassador will…


Russia Cuts Finland’s Electric Supply

Russian energy supplier RAO Nordic Oy cut off electricity supply to Finland early Saturday, accusing the country of not making payments on past bills. “We are forced to note that for the volumes which have been sold on Nord Pool exchange since the 6th of May funds have not yet been credited to our bank…


Finland Announces It Will Apply to Join NATO, Scrapping Decades of Neutrality

The government of Finland announced Sunday that it is planning to apply for NATO membership in a move that is likely to irk Moscow amid the months-long conflict in Ukraine. Ahead of the planned announcement, Russian officials lodged threats against the Scandinavian country, which shares a lengthy border with Russia and has long held a…


Finland Announces It Will Apply to Join NATO as Sweden May Follow

The government of Finland announced Sunday that it is planning to apply for NATO membership in a move that is likely to irk Moscow amid the months-long conflict in Ukraine. Ahead of the planned announcement, Russian officials lodged threats against the Scandinavian country, which shares a lengthy border with Russia and has long held a…


Finland Announces It Will Apply to Join NATO; Sweden May Follow

The government of Finland has announced that it’s planning to apply for NATO membership in a move that’s likely to irk Moscow amid the months-long conflict in Ukraine. Ahead of the planned announcement, Russian officials made threats against the Scandinavian country, which shares a lengthy border with Russia and has long held a position of…


Biden Backs Sweden, Finland Bids for NATO Membership

President Joe Biden is supporting plans for two new countries to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the White House has indicated. Biden spoke with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö on May 13. Biden “underscored his support for NATO’s Open Door policy and for the right of Finland and Sweden to…


Finland’s President Tells Putin They Will Apply to Join NATO; Putin Calls It a Mistake

HELSINKI—Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his Finnish counterpart Saturday relations between the two neighbors could be “negatively affected” if Finland follows through with plans to apply for NATO membership. The Kremlin’s press service said in a statement that Putin told Sauli Niinisto that Finland’s abandonment “of its traditional policy of military neutrality would be an…


Turkey Not Supportive of NATO Membership for Finland, Sweden: Erdogan

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan tossed cold water on any potential NATO membership for Finland and Sweden. “We’re following the developments regarding Sweden and Finland, but we don’t hold positive views,” Erdogan told reporters. He criticized the Scandinavian countries as “guesthouses” for terrorist organizations and implied that some terrorists are in the parliament in some countries….


Russia Threatens Retaliation as Finland Prepares to Join NATO

Russian officials on May 12 threatened to take action if Finland is successful in its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). “Finland joining NATO will seriously harm bilateral Russian-Finnish relations and the maintenance of stability and security in the North European region,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to state-run…