Trend News Agency
May 15, 2022

Sweden plans to apply for NATO membership on May 17

Sweden is expected to apply for NATO membership on May 17, Svenska Dagbladet newspaper reported on Sunday….

According to the newspaper, the date will depend on whether Finland has time to make a decision on joining by then. According to Finnish experts, there is a risk that the debate in the Parliament of Finland scheduled for Monday on the issue may be delayed.

Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Pekka Haavisto said in an interview with Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that the country could apply for NATO membership on May 18.

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Trend News Agency
May 15, 2022

Finland prepares to apply to NATO on May 18, top diplomat says

Finland may apply to join NATO on Wednesday, May 18, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told the Aftonbladet newspaper….

“Our permanent representative to NATO in Brussels will do this [apply] possibly on Wednesday. If talks with NATO begin, they will be taken care of by a delegation led by the foreign minister and the defense minister,” he said.

On May 16, Finland’s parliament will hold debates on the prospects of the country’s accession to NATO. According to a joint statement by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin published on May 12, Finland should apply for NATO membership as soon as possible. The formal decision on the application is expected to be made on Sunday, May 15.