- Sweden's cause is also ours.
We go further hand in hand.
This was announced by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö when NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Finland at the end of last week.
SVT's foreign reporter Hasse Svens says that there are several reasons why Finland chooses to wait for Sweden's application, even though it might be possible to proceed on its own.
- The President of Finland said the other day that "it is we who have lured Sweden into NATO, so it would be terrible if we just left Sweden now".
"More depth in the defense together"
But there are also security policy reasons for Finland to wait for Sweden.
- Finland is the security policy shield for Sweden, but this shield will be much stronger if Sweden is also involved.
It will be deeper in the defense so it is also important for Finland to join NATO at the same time, says Hasse Svens.
In a possible scenario where Russia shuts down the Baltic Sea, Finland would have major problems importing and exporting necessities.
You would then become dependent on the area around Tornedalen and a Swedish NATO membership would then be of great help, says Hasse Svens.
"Should not hang on to Sweden"
At the same time, Svens states, there is no guarantee of how long Finland will wait.
Voices have already begun to be raised that this may be a stupid strategy.
- I do not think that Finland should hang on to Sweden.
The security policy situation differs between the countries, Jussi Halla-aho told Yle earlier this week.
He is the chairman of the True Finns and also the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Finnish Parliament.
He emphasizes that Finland, unlike Sweden, has a 130 km long border with Russia.
- This is easy to forget when you talk about us being connected.
I do not think that Finland can commit to doing as Sweden does.
Even if, of course, it would be desirable for the countries to continue in the same direction and at the same pace, he says.