Finland keeps open to apply for NATO membership

Finland's new NATO policy may speed up the country's application for membership of the military alliance, said a Finnish expert on Wednesday.

While the governmental formation talks were ongoing, the ruling coalition issued its first outline of foreign and security policies on Wednesday, saying that Finland will maintain the possibility to apply for NATO membership during the next four years.

Teija Tiilikainen, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told Finnish media that the new policy differs from that applied by the current cabinet, which has made sure that Finland does not prepare for NATO membership during its tenure since 2011.

"Now, the question is open," claimed Tiilikainen.

She was quoted as saying that the application will be at a faster pace, if the NATO member states are willing to accept Finland.

The reason behind the policy change is that the security environment has worsened dramatically in recent years, explained Tiilikainen, adding that Finland always needs to consider the wisest foreign policies.

Public opinion polls have consistently shown a solid majority of Finns are against joining NATO in recent years. However, the number of NATO membership supporters has been on the rise since the Ukraine crisis started in February 2014.

A survey conducted earlier in January this year indicated that majority of Finns believed that a referendum would be the best way to decide Finland's NATO membership. Endit