Swedes, Finns Favor NATO Entry in Shift After Ukraine War
- Friday polls show 51% of Swedes, 48% of Finns back joining
- Russia has warned both countries of ‘military’ backlash
Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)l, center, Pekka Haavisto, Finland’s foreign minister, left, and Ann Linde, Sweden’s foreign minister, right, during a news conference after their meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels Jan. 24.
Photographer: John Thys/AFP/Getty Images
Swedes and Finns are increasingly in favor of joining the NATO defense bloc after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, adding pressure on the countries’ leaders to change long-standing policies of military non-alignment.
Polls released in the two Nordic countries on Friday showed 51% of Swedes and 48% of Finns now back joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It’s the first time a Swedish majority favors the entry, while an earlier poll in Finland has also indicated majority support.