The parties in the Finnish parliament are expected to debate the forthcoming ratification of NATO’s founding treaty on Friday, which could see the country join the alliance before neighboring Sweden.

At the same time, more and more Finns want their country to move ahead with NATO membership rather than waiting for Stockholm.

It is noted that the two countries requested NATO membership shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. While most member states have ratified the membership application, Turkey has yet to give its consent.

“Our position on Finland is positive, but not on Sweden”President Tayyip Erdogan said last week.

Turkey’s different views on the integration of the two countries prompted the Finnish leaders to continue this process themselves.

In addition, it seems that citizens also want this, since 53% of Finns Those who took part in a poll conducted on February 2 for the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper said they did not want Finland to wait for Sweden. About 28% said the opposite.

“We won’t wait forever for Sweden”

So today, Friday, during parliamentary hearings in Helsinki, if the parliament votes “yes”, as expected, the president will have to submit a request to NATO within three months.

Also, if all existing NATO members ratify Finland’s candidacy, then this will mean the country’s entry into NATO without Sweden.

However, to do this, Turkey and Hungary must first ratify Finland’s membership, and NATO must send an official invitation to Helsinki to become a member.

Finland’s justice minister told Ilta-Sanomat that the process would leave Finland some space to wait for Sweden if needed, but not “forever”.

Officially, Finland has insistently confirmed that it wants to join NATO together with Sweden. After all, Stockholm is Helsinki’s closest defensive ally.

In addition, in the event of a conflict with Russia, with which Finland has a 1,300-kilometer border, NATO will have to pass through Swedish territory to help defend Helsinki.

Source: Reuters.