HELSINKI, March 5 ― Sweden and Finland will further strengthen their security cooperation in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin said today.

“Russia's war against a sovereign European nation puts the European security order at risk. In this changing security environment, Finland and Sweden will further strengthen our cooperation,” Marin told reporters in Helsinki at a joint news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.

Sweden and Finland, both outside the NATO-alliance, have strong historic ties and a close military cooperation, including joint drills, military materiel purchases and information sharing.

Polls in recent days have shown a majority for joining NATO in both countries. Marin said it was “understandable” that more people in both Sweden and Finland now want to join NATO.A

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“We are now having this discussion in Finland,” Marin said. “We will have these discussions within parliament, with the president, within the government and between the parties.” ― Reuters