Finland’s top diplomat hints at joining Nato without Sweden, amid row with Turkey
- Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto later back-pedalled, but his comments were the first sign of a crack in the unity between the 2 Nordic nations
- Their Nato bid requires approval of all members of the alliance, and Turkey has warned it will not support Sweden, after anti-Islam protests in Stockholm
Finland’s foreign minister suggested on Tuesday that the country may consider joining Nato without neighbouring Sweden if Turkey continues to block their joint bid to enter the military alliance.
Pekka Haavisto later back-pedalled, but his comments were the first time a leading government official in either Nordic country appeared to raise doubts about becoming Nato members together at a time when the alliance is seeking to present a united front in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Sweden and Finland rushed to apply for Nato membership following Moscow’s invasion, abandoning their long-standing non-alignment policy.
Their accession needs the approval of all existing Nato members, including Turkey, which has so far blocked the expansion, saying Sweden in particular needs to crack down on exiled Kurdish militants and their sympathisers.
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Sweden again not to expect support for its application following weekend protests in Stockholm by an anti-Islam activist and pro-Kurdish groups.
Asked a day later whether it still made sense for Finland to proceed together with the Swedes, Haavisto told broadcaster YLE that his country would have to “evaluate the situation if it turns out that Sweden’s application is stalling for a long time to come”.