Finnish PM Sanna Marin with Italian PM Mario Draghi during Press conference.
Thu 19 May 2022:
Even if Finland joins NATO, the Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told an Italian newspaper in an interview published on Thursday that she does not want nuclear weapons or military bases on its soil.
On Wednesday, Finland and Sweden formally requested to join NATO, a decision prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Turkey has raised concerns to a procedure that had been thought to be relatively rapid.
Marin, who was in Rome to meet with her Italian counterpart Mario Draghi, expressed her belief that the issue could be resolved through dialogue.
“I think at this stage it is important to stay calm, to have discussions with Turkey and all other member countries, answering questions that may exist and correcting any misunderstandings,” Marin told Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
Marin also said the question of NATO deploying nuclear weapons or opening bases in Finland was not part of Helsinki’s membership negotiations with the Western military alliance.
“Nor do I think there is any interest in deploying nuclear weapons or opening NATO bases in Finland,” she said.
Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of neighbouring Sweden, which like Finland is applying for NATO membership, has also said her country did not want permanent NATO bases or nuclear weapons on its territory.
Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, has indicated unexpected objection to the membership of Finland and Sweden, accusing the Nordic neighbors of harboring terrorists. After Turkey’s foray into Syria in 2019, Ankara cited the countries’ arms export embargoes on Turkey.
Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Sweden’s Prime Minister Andersson will meet with US President Joe Biden later on Thursday in Washington.
After meeting with Marin on Wednesday, Draghi stated that Italy fully supports Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership applications and is eager to expedite any internal procedures necessary for the two countries to join the alliance as soon as possible.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
