'Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay,' Finnish president and prime minister advise

Magdalena Andersson, Sanna Marin
(Image credit: Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva/AFP/Getty Images)

Finland is a big step closer to joining NATO after President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin threw their support behind membership Thursday morning. "NATO membership would strengthen Finland's security," they said in a statement. "As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defense alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days."

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, public support for joining NATO was consistently below 30 percent. Now it is at 76 percent, according to the latest opinion poll.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.