UK would do 'whatever we need to to defend Finland and Sweden'

[Celerity]

UK defence minister Ben Wallace has once again pledged the UK's support in the event of an attack on Sweden or Finland.

https://www.thelocal.se/20220505/uk-would-do-whatever-we-need-to-to-defend-finland-and-sweden/


UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace (left) walks with Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen at the Arrow 22 exercise in Kankaanpaeae. Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva / AFP

During a visit to the “Arrow 2022” military exercise in Kankaanpaa, in the southwest of Finland, Wallace said that both Sweden and Finland could rely on the support of the UK should Russia mount an attack, regardless of the whether they were on the way to becoming Nato members or not.

“I cannot conceive a time that we wouldn’t come to support Finland and Sweden, no matter where they were with the Nato debate or where they are with the agreements and I think that is what really binds us,” he told journalists. “We would do whatever we need to, to support Finland.”

The statement came after Finland’s prime minister Sanna marin told a joint press conference with Nordic leaders in Copenhagen that her country was holding talks with key members of the Nato alliance to obtain security guarantees during the application period, which could last several months,

According to the Finnish media, the Finnish government’s decision on Nato membership could be made in the next few days. The latest polls suggest a large majority of Finnish MPs and the public are in favour of joining the Atlantic Alliance, a change in opinion that has come about since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is to announce his personal stance on the issue on May 12.

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