Ex-Swedish PM Expresses Concern Over Finland's Plan To Join NATO

(Photo : Johannes Simon/Getty Images)
If Finland is accepted to NATO first, leaving Sweden behind would lead to concerns for the military bloc in the long term, according to the former Swedish prime minister.

Ex-Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson, with another official, stated that Sweden would be seen negatively if Finland gets accepted to NATO first. If only one gets accepted, it will be a setback for the military bloc's open-door policy.

NATO Faces Problem in Approving Finland's Bid First

PM Ulf Kristersson stated that it is a concern that instead of a dual acceptance, that will only be achieved if Sweden is ratified. Turkey is a member of the military bloc that controls their bids, reported Almayadeen.

The media release from PM Kristersson said that from the start, the two Nordic states should be on the same bid, not separate, and it seems like Helsinki will be approved earlier, noted US News.

Kristersson added that Stockholm does not mind Helsinki getting accepted first, but it might mar the relationship as a long-term issue.

An opinion was expressed by the chief negotiator, Oscar Stenstrom, saying that the Nordic country has been in confidential discussions with Ankara. He added that they have enough time to comply with the Madrid Agreement to deal with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a terror group that has been targeting Ankara.

Stenstrom says that the Turks have been less severe against the Fins, which indicates that the Swedes are having a big problem. Unless Sweden does something to commit to the memorandum, there will be nothing positive.

Swedish Leaders Want Protection

Former PM Andersson told the press that getting left out of the bid and expressed that it will compromise the open-door policy. More is that military cooperation could be impacted between the two Nordic nations.

Kjell Engelbrekt, a political science professor, remarked that cooperative security getting impacted if Helsinki gets its bid would not be the same. He said it would leave the Swedes less protected than ever if on their own.

Unless Turkey and Hungary will make it easier and ratify both of the Nordic nation's bids simultaneously, they are the only two of the thirty members that should agree on entry to the military bloc.

Ankara stopped the talks after the Swedes allowed rallies against Turkey in Sweden's capital. The burning of the holy Quran at the Turkish consulate led to an outrage on March 9, and there were talks in Brussels.

Hungary Stalls the Nordic Countries Applications

Budapest is another NATO member who has to ratify the bids of Helsinki and Stockholm when they filed it after the Ukraine conflict, cited Euractive. Only they and Turkey are holdouts of the 28 who approved.

A representative of the leftist Democratic Coalition and opposition party lawmaker, Agnes Vadai, stated that a communication from Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen had relevant information about the NATO bids. Saying the Fidesz and the Christian Democrats are not keen to hold the session on March 14 about the ratification.

Fidesz told Reuters that the session would not be scheduled next week, which is seen as a delay in the Brussels talks. Budapest has an issue over EU funds that the EU commission is holding.

The ex-Swedish PM Andersson said not allowing Sweden and Finland into NATO at the same time is an issue that will be a grave concern.