BERLIN, May 15. /TASS/. Finland and Sweden are highly likely to join NATO; the alliances doors are open for them, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday after an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin.
"What Russia has always been seeking to prevent has led to a situation when these two countries are highly likely to join NATO," she said. "NATO’s doors are open for them. And if they decide to enter by them, they will be welcome. No doubts, Finland and Sweden are ready for than from the political and military points of view."
"Their armed forces are integrated into NATO structures to a larger extent, both countries meet NATO standards and are already participating in NATO missions," the German top diplomat stressed. "Their accession will considerably reinforce our alliance."
She noted that the two countries are de facto NATO members already although they are not such de jure. "Foe the first time, all north European countries will be under the common security umbrella," she stressed.
Discussions on Finland’s and Sweden’s possible accession to NATO intensified in early April. The alliance’s key members have supported the idea. Most of Finland’s parliament members have already upheld the idea of joining the bloc. Sweden is also looking at such a possibility. 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.