STOCKHOLM, May 12. /TASS/. Finland should apply for NATO membership as soon as possible, according to a joint statement by the country’s President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin published on Thursday.

"NATO membership would strengthen Finland's security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence 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," the statement said.

According to local media outlets, the actual decision on applying to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will be made by the president and Finnish government later. Consultations with the parliament on this issue will also be held.

In early April, the discussion of Finland’s possible NATO membership intensified. The main members of the alliance supported this initiative. In Finland, the majority of the members of the parliament upheld the idea of joining the bloc. Earlier, the Finnish president said that the country’s possible NATO membership is not directed against other countries while the main goal of this move is the bolstering of national security.

In addition to Finland, Sweden is also considering joining NATO. As reported earlier, on May 13, an interparty analysis of the situation in the sphere of the security policy will be ready in Sweden and the ruling Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party (SAP) will make a decision with regards to joining NATO on May 15.