Finland Times

 

President Sauli Niinistö, speaks at the annual Society and Defence conference in Salen, Sweden, on Sunday. Photo – AFP / Lehtikuva.

President Sauli Niinistö has said Finland has no intention to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) at this moment, according to Swedish News Agency TT.

 

The president made the remarks on Sunday while addressing the Sälen security conference in Sweden.

 

Niinistö however said he felt the necessity for maintaining active cooperation with NATO and also emphasised the need for a stronger cooperation with neighbour Sweden, saying that the partnership is vital for both the countries.

 

"The big question is how can we best coordinate the acquisition of defence material for both countries," said Niinistö.

 

In response to the question concerning about the decrease in Swedish defence capability, Niinistö said Swedish Air and Naval forces were stronger while Finland was "perhaps better in some extent" in the land.

 

The Swedish prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, also said Sweden had no intention of joining NATO at the moment.

 

The President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö (L) and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt speak at the annual Society and Defence conference in Salen, Sweden on Sunday.Photo – AFP / Lehtikuva.

Earlier on August 27 last year, President Niinistö underscored the need for strong defence forces in Finland despite cooperation with different common security organisations including NATO.

 

The president said cooperation with the military alliance NATO had helped the country to develop its defence sector, but he warned that the national security could never be secured by a free ride.

 

Niinistö emphasised on strengthening relation with other common security and defence organisations in Europe and Nordic countries and opined to look for the possibility for Finland’s inclusion in “Weimar Triangle,” the defence pact of three European countries – France, Germany and Poland.