Finland officially applies for NATO membership
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Niinisto at a press conference announcing the country's formal application for NATO membership © Heikki Saukkomaa/ Lehtikuva/via Reuters
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Finland has taken the decision to apply for NATO membership, announced the President and Prime Minister of the Nordic country, a direct consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While most of the member countries of the Alliance have shown themselves in favor, Turkey remains opposed, while any new membership must be made by consensus.
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“
It is a historic day.
A new era is dawning ,”
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö
told
a news conference.
The President and Prime Minister of Finland had already announced their intention, but were only able to formalize this request after a meeting of the government council.
The two leaders still have to submit a membership plan to Parliament, which will be submitted to MPs on Monday 16 May.
Russia
is strongly opposed
to this project, sharing more than 1,300km of border with the Nordic country.
The latter, historically neutral, changed its position
after the Russian invasion of Ukraine
.
(With AFP & Reuters)
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Finland
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