NATO Membership: Finnish And Swedish Leaders Hold Joint Press Conference

Finland’s Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, and his Swedish counterpart, Magdalena Andersson are meeting in Stockholm on Wednesday to discuss regional security matters in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine .

The meeting in Stockholm comes less than two months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has altered the regional security picture in Scandinavia.

On Wednesday, Finland will begin a debate that could see it putting forth an application to join the NATO military alliance that it already cooperates with.

Moscow has already expressed its disapproval in fellow non-NATO member state Sweden, Russia’s war against its neighbor Ukraine has also provoked anxiety, as well as a political uncertainty on the country’s question of military non-alignment.

Russia has repeatedly said NATO expansion is a thorn in its side, while NATO maintains the alliance is defensive in nature.