STA, 18 May 2022 - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Slovenia fully respected and supported the decision of Sweden and Finland to join NATO, labelling the two countries as the closest partners of the alliance.
Issuing the statement as Sweden and Finland today submitted official applications to join NATO, the ministry said that "NATO's door must remain open to European countries that want to join and meet the criteria for membership."
It added that "Slovenia has always been a supporter of NATO's open-door policy and advocates the sovereign right of every country to an independent foreign policy, including integration into defence alliances."
Slovenia's support for the two countries' bid to join the alliance was also expressed today by President Pahor.
"I would like to congratulate the friendly nations of Finland and Sweden on their demanding decision to ask for membership of NATO after a long period of neutrality. Slovenia supports their application. Finland's and Sweden's membership of NATO will enhance our shared European and north-Atlantic security," Pahor wrote on Twitter.
The two countries' decision to ask to be admitted to NATO was also hailed by Tanja Fajon, the leader of the Social Democrats (SD), who is tipped to become Slovenia's next foreign minister.
She understands the move as a contribution to Europe's collective security. "Of course also as an effort to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible, peacefully obviously, which is what we all strive for," she said.
Speaking at the same press conference as Fajon and Robert Golob, the prospective prime minister, Luka Mesec, the leader of the Left, reiterated his party's opposition to NATO enlargement and advocacy of Slovenia's quitting the alliance, but indicated the party will not block the enlargement in parliament.
"As far as membership of Finland and Sweden is concerned; if the issue comes up at the government, we will vote against and in parliament we will abstain in line with the protocol on the functioning of the government," said Mesec.
The ambassadors of Sweden and Finland to NATO presented NATO membership applications to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Wednesday. The hitherto neutral countries decided to join NATO in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In order to join the alliance, new members must get consent from all 30 member states of the alliance. For the time being, their membership is opposed by Turkey, which alleges that Sweden and Finland support terrorist groups.
