Volt Suomi and Volt Sverige demand NATO membership

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Volt Sverige and Volt Suomi are demanding that Sweden and Finland join NATO. 

Finland and Sweden have maintained an alleged policy of neutrality for decades. However, given the Kremlin's aggressive policy of expansion and destabilisation in neighbouring countries since 2008, their contempt for international law and treaties, and the recent threats against Stockholm and Helsinki, it is clear that Russia is not a credible international partner and hasn’t been one in many years. 

In the face of aggression, silence and neutrality enable the oppressor.

The actions undertaken in Ukraine show a complete rejection of the Budapest Memorandum (1994) and of the Minsk agreements from the Russian government. Additionally, Putin's latest statements and rejection of Ukraine’s sovereignty are a worrying sign of the Kremlin’s rejection of reality.

Ukraine lacked security insurance such as the EU Solidarity Clause, Article 42 (7) or NATO Article 5. Volt Suomi and Volt Sverige thus conclude that to ensure our common security, Stockholm and Helsinki should call for NATO membership.

Volt Europa's long-term goal is strategic European autonomy through a common defense force. This cannot be achieved at the same time as EU Member States are being threatened by a hostile neighbour. With newly-gained security through NATO membership, Finland and Sweden would be able to work safely towards Europe's strategic autonomy, and ultimately reduce Russia's influence over our economies and over our diplomatic ability to act. 

Volt Europa's demands for a European Armed Forces naturally follow from our support for European cooperation within the framework of NATO, as we believe that NATO membership will prepare the Swedish and Finnish military for a continued European military alliance.

Volt Suomi and Volt Sverige thus demand that Sweden's Riksdag and Finland's Eduskunta immediately open up discussions for NATO membership for their respective countries.

This statement originally appeared on the websites of Volt Sverige and Volt Suomi on 28 February 2022.