Latvian government supports Finland and Sweden joining NATO

• Published date: 24 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

RIGA, May 24 (LETA) - The Latvian government today supported Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) notes that after Russia started its war against Ukraine, the Finnish and Swedish governments drafted and submitted to parliament a report on changes in the security environment. It concludes that only membership of NATO and the security guarantees set out in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty would provide Finland and Sweden with the necessary protection in the event of a potential military conflict.

Following extensive discussions, the Finnish parliament and the Swedish government decided to apply for NATO membership. Letters of formal application were submitted to the NATO Secretary General on May 18.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that, given Russia's war in Ukraine, its aggressive rhetoric and its potential to escalate the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, it is in Latvia's and allies' interest to accelerate Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that the decision to invite Finland and Sweden to start accession negotiations with NATO must be taken at a meeting of the NATO...