British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced he agreed new deals with Sweden and Finland to bolster European security, pledging to support both countries' armed forces should they come under attack.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto address a press conference at the Presidential palace in Helsinki, Finland. Photo: AFP
Johnson signed the new declarations, described by Britain as "a step-change in defence and security cooperation", during visits to both Sweden and Finland on Wednesday (local time).
"What it says is that in the event of a disaster, or in the event of an attack on either of us, then we will come to each other's assistance, including with military assistance," Johnson said at a press conference in Helsinki.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to a rethink of how Sweden - and neighbour Finland - safeguard national security.
Both are expected to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), but both are worried they would be vulnerable while their applications are processed, which could take up to a year.
Asked if Finland would be provoking Russia by joining Nato, which it sees as a dangerous and hostile Western military alliance, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Russian President Vladimir Putin would be blame for any decision to join the alliance.
"My response would be that you caused this. Look at the mirror," Niinisto said.
Sweden has also received assurances of support from the US and Germany.
Britain said the new arrangements would intensify intelligence sharing and accelerate joint military training, exercises and deployments.
Johnson said the nature of any assistance will "depend on the request of the other party". But he claimed Nato was a defensive alliance.
"Nato poses no threat to anyone. It is there for the purposes of mutual defence," he said at the press conference.
- Reuters
