HELSINKI — Finland must apply to join the Nato military alliance"without delay", Finnish president Sauli Niinisto and prime minister Sanna Marin said on Thursday , a major policy shift triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay," Mr Niinisto and Ms Marin said in a joint statement. Baltic countries, which were once ruled from Moscow and are now members of Nato, welcomed Finland's announcement. Finnish public support for joining Nato has risen to record numbers over recent months, with the latest poll by public broadcaster YLE showing 76 per cent of Finns in favour and only 12 per cent against, while support for membership used to linger at only around 25 per cent for years prior to the war in Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly warned both countries against joining the alliance. As recently as March 12 its foreign ministry said"there will be serious military and political consequences" if they do.
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