German Foreign Minister Backs Finland, Sweden NATO Bids

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pledged further support for Finland's and Sweden's NATO membership bids on February 13 as she started on a two-day trip to visit the Nordic neighbors. Russia's attack on Ukraine signaled a real turning point for the two countries, Baerbock noted. "After 80 years of Finland's and 200 years of Sweden's policy of nonparticipation in military alliances, the two countries have decided to join NATO," Baerbock said in a statement, adding that she would stress this in Finland and especially in Sweden.