Stoltenberg Says Finland And Sweden Would Be "Very Much Welcomed" If They Join NATO

Finland and Sweden would be "very much welcomed" if they decide to join NATO, the alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the CNN, adding that he has a "good dialogue" with both countries regarding the potential for their accession.

• Stoltenberg noted that if Finland and Sweden apply for NATO membership, the alliance will find ways to process their application relatively quickly.
• His comments come after Finland's Prime Minister Marin told her party that Finland should reconsider its stance on military allegiance, as "Russia is not the neighbour we thought it was."
• Marin told party delegates that a decision to apply for NATO membership would have to be made "thoroughly but quickly," preferably this spring.
• Public support for joining NATO has been growing in the two Nordic countries following Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine in late February.