PM Marin: Finland’s NATO Membership Decision Needs More Time

Finland will not rush into a decision about whether to apply to become full members of the military alliance NATO, Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) said, according to Eye on the Arctic.

The PM made the comments following a meeting with party leaders on Tuesday night about the NATO question, as well as the situation in Ukraine.

Following Russia’s ongoing deadly attack on Ukraine as well as other developments, there has been a change of opinion in Finland about joining NATO, including among lawmakers. However, Marin did not want to volunteer whether she — or the Social Democrats — had a formal stance on the issue.

On Monday the PM announced that Finland will send arms to Ukraine. The unprecedented decision was signed by President Sauli Niinistö based on a cabinet proposal.

The party leaders also discussed Finland’s defense, Marin told reporters, saying that it was clear that spending on Finland’s defense, internal security and self-sufficiency needs to be increased.