Foreign Minister Ann Linde was given the direct question in SVT's Agenda on Sunday whether Finland will join NATO.
- I think you can say that for sure, we had the Finnish Foreign Affairs Committee in Sweden last week and it was unequivocal also from my own party which has not formally taken a position yet, she said then.
That same evening, the Finnish Minister of Justice commented on Twitter that Ann Linde's statement was "interesting".
- It was interesting to hear that this is how she perceives the situation right now.
But of course the train is running in Finland.
This is an extremely important issue.
But the Prime Minister's party, the Social Democrats, has not yet taken a position, says Finland's Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson to SVT.
The Finnish Minister of Justice's Twitter post about Ann Linde's statement.
Photo: Facsimile Twitter
Is it appropriate for the Swedish government to comment on Finland's presence or absence in NATO?
- It is up to everyone to decide how to act, but it is incredibly important that we have an open discussion in both our countries.
It is clear that you exchange thoughts about how you experience the situation.
I also follow the Swedish debate very closely.
The important thing is that Finland and Sweden go side by side on this issue.
Do not want to speculate about Swedish message
In both Sweden and Finland, the Social Democrats have a key position on the NATO issue.
Henriksson's own party, the Swedish People's Party, is open to Finnish NATO membership.
Do you think that Sweden will join NATO?
- I have a hard time commenting on that.
But I think that Sweden has started the debate in a different way.
It is of course the case that much is up to the Social Democrats in Sweden.
Ann Linde probably knows that better than I do.
I have my own hope that we will be able to go side by side in the process.
By 12 May, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö will announce his views on Finnish NATO membership.