Two heads of government: Sanna Marin (right) and Magdalena Andersson exchanged views on security issues.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
Helsinki In view of the Ukraine war, Sweden and Finland want to coordinate security issues even more closely and increase their defense efforts. “Our countries are not directly threatened, but it is clear that we must assess security in our own region together,” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Saturday after meeting Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson in Helsinki.
“In Sweden we are currently discussing further increases in military spending,” Andersson said. Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonnen had previously told Yle television that his country wanted to buy an Israeli-made anti-aircraft system. The products of two manufacturers are available.
Unlike Denmark, Norway and Iceland, Finland and Sweden are not NATO members, but they are close NATO partners. According to surveys, Russia’s attack on Ukraine has boosted support in both countries for possible NATO membership.
Marin said it is understandable that the mindset of citizens is changing because of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. “People are also concerned about the security situation in the Nordic countries, in Europe as a whole,” she said.
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The two politicians strongly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine. “After last week we are in a new security situation,” said Andersson. The security situation has changed dramatically.
Intensified cooperation between USA and Finland
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö met with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday. Both had agreed to intensify cooperation in the defense during the conversation, in which Andersson was also temporarily connected by telephone.
At around 1,300 kilometers, Finland has the longest border with Russia of all EU countries. Defense Minister Kaikkonen said he assumes that other EU countries will not stand by and do nothing if Finland is the target of an attack. Andersson also said on Saturday that there was already a solidarity statement from the countries of the European Union.
More: A turning point for Europe’s politics and economy: This is how Vladimir Putin’s war is reorganizing the world