Thread by @CorporalFrisk

Things suddenly start to look interesting. Finnish FM #Haavisto to hold presser on Finnish and Swedish #NATO-membership application in 15 minutes. Ping @patrikoksanen @Cornubot @AWollstad

https://twitter.com/Ulkoministerio/status/1617803497466138626

@patrikoksanen @Cornubot @AWollstad Discussions have been made with Stoltenberg, Swedish FM Billström, and Turkish FM. No issues with Hungary, they assure us they won't be last to ratify us.

Discussions under tri-lateral format has gone well, but now Turkey is rather upset following demonstrations in Stockholm. Haavisto believe this will cause a delay of at least "weeks".

However, Finland will stick to plan to join NATO together with Sweden. This is important both from a NATO point of view - including operational planning - but also from a Finnish point of view as we are in extremely close defence cooperation with Sweden.

All countries that made defence commitments last year to Finland still stand by them, which is an important point.

Haavisto throws the ball to NATO and says if things aren't moving before #Vilnius in July, questions will be asked whether the Open Doors-policy is for real.

When asked about if Finland could change policy and go alone, answer was that "Somewhere in the back of the head we are obviously thinking about alternatives if someone is permanently blocked [...] but there's no plan B at this time."

Now #Sweden will hold a presser (start in 5 minutes) on the #NATO-application, sporting the PM, MoD, and FM. Considering Finnish FM #Haavisto said he had talked with his colleague, I sincerely hope the message is the same as we earlier saw from #Finland. regeringen.se/pressmeddeland…

Swedish PM reiterates importance to Swedish security of "#Ukraine winning the war".

He notes that both Finnish government and opposition has clearly today stated their intention of joining #NATO together with #Sweden. Says he understand the frustration among Finns with the process.

Sweden is "pretty close" to the point where they feel they have done what they have agreed to in order for Turkey to approve their application, and assume that they will be ratified.

It's difficult for me to say what exactly was the point of the press conference. It seems it was important to point out that several major Swedish media outlets had somehow managed to report the opposite of what the Finnish FM had said (that Finland won't go alone).

It also seems like an important point to make was that it is possible to support freedom of expression while still noting that some people and groups use this freedom to hurt Swedish interests and democratically taken decisions.

It is striking from a Finnish point of view that Sweden - and in particular the media - seems to lack a common language and understanding to discuss national security, national interests, and threats directed against these. Now there was a lot of "What do you mean with 'x' ?"