We strongly welcome Finland plus Sweden’s decisions to apply for NATO membership. We will do the utmost to ensure a swift accession process, as Finland and Sweden already meet the relevant criteria for NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION membership. Their armed forces meet NATO standards and are interoperable with NATO forces. We now have trained and exercised collectively for many years. We highly prefer the significant contributions that Finland and Sweden have made in order to NATO missions and procedures.
Finland and Sweden’s security is a matter associated with common concern to all of us. Should Finland or Sweden be victim of aggression on their territory before obtaining NATO membership, we will aid Finland and Sweden go ahead and necessary.
Finland and Sweden share the values plus principles of our Alliance and will enhance our collective protection and strengthen Euro-Atlantic safety.
We note that the decisions by Finland and Sweden to apply for NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION membership are sovereign national decisions in line with Finland and Sweden’s right to choose their own security arrangements. Finland plus Sweden have the right to pursue their accession process without any attempts of outside disturbance.
The prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland and Norway have issued the following joint declaration welcoming the decisions associated with Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership, and emphasising that the Nordic countries almost all share the values and principles of the Alliance:
We immediately initiate preparations in order to effectuate these security assurances. We are going to also further develop our defence cooperation with Finland and Sweden.
