Germany fully supports Finland’s NATO membership

Following the joint statement by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Finland’s accession to NATO, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed Finland’s statements on NATO membership and expressed his “full support” for Finland. “I welcome the speeches made by Finland in favor of joining NATO,” Scholz said, adding, “In my phone call with President Sauli Niinistö, I ensured to Finland the full support of the German government.”

President Niinistö said in a statement on his social media account that he discussed Finland’s NATO membership with Scholz and said, “Finland is grateful for Germany’s support for our NATO membership.”

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR FINLAND’S ACCESSION TO NATO 80 PERCENT Since
Russia’s attacks on Ukraine last February, polls on Finland’s accession to NATO have seen public support rise from 30 percent to 80
percent.

In a joint statement on Finland’s accession to NATO, Finnish President Niinistö and Finnish Prime Minister Marin said: “NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security and its entire defence alliance. Finland should apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps required to take this decision will be taken quickly in the next few days.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “Finland’s
NATO membership will pose a definite threat to Russia. The enlargement efforts of the Alliance (NATO) will not make our continent more stable and secure,” he said, adding, “If you remember, there is an active instruction from the President (Vladimir Putin) on the preparation of measures that can be taken to strengthen our western flanks in connection with the strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank. NATO is moving towards us. So, of course, all this will become an element for the development of a special analysis and necessary measures to stabilize the situation and ensure our safety.”