The NATO accession of Sweden and Finland remains in limbo for the time being, since the parliaments of Hungary and Turkey have still not given the green light. However, these two are countries that are also members of the European Union [UE], are willing to consider having nuclear weapons on their soil once they join the Alliance. So said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin during a press conference on November 1 in Helsinki.
“We don’t have to set any conditions. We decided we didn’t want to close any doors,” Ms Marin said when asked about the possible use of nuclear weapons in Finland within the framework of NATO. “You will get exactly the same answer from me,” the Swedish Prime Minister then added. “It goes without saying that Sweden and Finland work together on this matter and we have to follow the same formalities,” he added, while his predecessor ruled out such a possibility.
In addition, both have also stated that it would always be possible to express reservations once NATO membership is validated. As a reminder, two close partners of Sweden and Finland, namely Denmark and Norway, have always refused to install nuclear weapons on their territory.
However, Helsinki’s position seems far less secure than Sanna Marin’s comments suggest. In fact, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö believed it was too early to address the issue of nuclear weapons. “We will join NATO on their terms. The issue of nuclear weapons is premature,” he said in a press conference ahead of a Nordic Council meeting in Helsinki, according to Yle.
However, the Iltalehti newspaper reported that the Finnish government’s NATO Membership Act would allow the alliance to station nuclear weapons in Finland. And it would not impose any restrictions on the establishment of bases. “It would be difficult to work out a new defense plan for Finland within NATO if nuclear weapons could not be introduced into Finnish airspace,” the sources told the daily. that the Finnish government’s NATO Membership Act would allow the Alliance to station nuclear weapons in Finland.
Of course, given that this country shares a 1300 km border with Russia, such a possibility could only be viewed with very bad eyes by the Kremlin. In addition, Moscow has already announced the creation of 12 new military bases in its western military district.
As for Sweden, Mr. Kristersson follows the recommendations of General Micael Byden, Chief of Staff of the Swedish Armed Forces. In fact, on November 1, he asserted that he would have “no reservations” about the stationing of nuclear weapons in his country.
“My advice is very clear: a priori, no reservations. Create bans before you become a member [de l’Otan] only creates obstacles and friction. It is then up to the political authorities to make the necessary decisions,” General Byden said, according to the Swedish press.
Photo: Dutch Ministry of Defence