President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö made a state visit to Sweden with his spouse Mrs Jenni Haukio on 17–18 May 2022. The visit focused on the current security policy situation and the NATO decisions of Finland and Sweden. Defence cooperation and the green transition were also on the agenda. During the visit, President Niinistö decided by remote connection on the proposal of the Government, that Finland will declare its interest in becoming a member of NATO.
The visit began on Tuesday morning, when the Swedish royal family ceremoniously welcomed the presidential couple as part of the state visit. The public had the opportunity to follow the event in front of the Royal Palace.
After the welcoming ceremony, President Niinistö visited the Riksdag, where he met Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Riksdag. Members of the Swedish Parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs and Defence, among others, also participated in discussions on the security policy situation.
After the discussions, President Niinistö delivered a speech to members of the Riksdag entitled “A responsible, strong and stable Nordic region”. In his speech, President Niinistö stated that the Nordic countries stand strong together in many areas and will soon form a strong quintet within NATO. “In addition to democracy and well-being, security is increasingly becoming one of the basic pillars of our joint Nordic model,” said Niinistö.
President Niinistö conducted official discussions with Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson on Tuesday afternoon, the topics being the NATO decisions of Finland and Sweden and the membership process. The Swedish government stated the previous day that it will apply for membership. Just before the start of the joint press conference of the President and the Prime Minister, the Finnish Parliament approved the submission of Finland’s application to NATO by a vote of 188–8. President Niinistö and Prime Minister Andersson also discussed Russia and Turkey. The joint meeting of President Niinistö and Prime Minister Andersson with US President Joe Biden on 19 May was also on the agenda.
At the press conference, President Niinistö stated that the spring in Finland has been a triumph of democracy, which has started from the ordinary people, parliamentary parties and all the way to political leadership. “I see this as very important because it is a historic decision.”
After the meeting with Prime Minister Andersson, President Niinistö participated by remote connection from the Finnish Embassy in Stockholm in a presentation meeting by the President of the Republic of Finland. At the meeting, the President decided, on the proposal of the Government, that Finland will declare to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation its interest in holding discussions on acceding to NATO.
The Tuesday programme also included a banquet hosted by the Swedish royal couple at the Royal Palace.
On Wednesday morning, President Niinistö and King Carl Gustav XVI participated in a debate focusing on the green economy transition at the Finnish Institute in Stockholm. The event was also attended by Mika Lintilä, Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs; Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson, Swedish Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation; and representatives of the Finnish and Swedish business communities.
After the debate, the programme continued with a visit to the Swedish Naval Base at Berga, where the visitors reviewed the operations of forces specialised in coastal conditions. In addition to a discussion on defence cooperation between Finland and Sweden, there was also a separate talks with security and defence policy experts. The participants also included Prince Carl Philip, Antti Kaikkonen, Finnish Minister of Defence, and Jan-Olof Lind, State Secretary of the Swedish Ministry of Defence. The visit to the naval base was hosted by General Micael Bydén, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces.
After the visit to Berga, the presidential couple and the royal couple attended a luncheon hosted by the City of Stockholm at the City Hall.
The state visit ended with a reception hosted by the presidential couple to thank the Swedish hosts at the residence of the Ambassador of Finland to Sweden and farewell ceremonies at the Royal Palace.
Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland Jenni Haukio had a separate programme on both days of the state visit.
President Niinistö last visited Sweden in November 2021. President Niinistö and his spouse made a state visit to Sweden at the beginning of his term as President in 2012. King Carl Gustav XVI and Queen Silvia last made a state visit to Finland in 2015. In addition, they visited Finland in 2017 together with other Nordic heads of state to celebrate the centenary of Finland’s independence.
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King Carl Gustav XVI and Queen Silvia welcomed President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio ceremoniously at the Royal Palace. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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King Carl Gustav XVI and Queen Silvia welcomed President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio ceremoniously at the Royal Palace. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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King Carl Gustav XVI and Queen Silvia welcomed President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio ceremoniously at the Royal Palace. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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King Carl Gustav XVI and Queen Silvia welcomed President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio ceremoniously at the Royal Palace. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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The Presidential couple met Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia at the Victoria salon in the Royal Palace. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Niinistö held a speech at the Swedish Parliament on the subject "Responsible, strong and stable Nordic region". Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Niinistö met Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Riksdag. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Niinistö met Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Riksdag. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Niinistö met Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Riksdag. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Niinistö held a speech at the Swedish Parliament on the subject "Responsible, strong and stable Nordic region". Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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At the official discussions with Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson, the topics were the security policy solutions of Finland and Sweden. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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At the official discussions with Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson, the topics were the security policy solutions of Finland and Sweden. Photo: Matti Porre/The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland Jenni Haukio had a separate programme on the state visit. On Tuesday, together with Queen Silvia, she visited the Bernadette Library as well as Waldemarsudde Art Museum, which is presenting an exhibition on Åland to mark the 100th anniversary of the region. Photo: Pia Lundström/Embassy of Finland in Stockholm
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Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland Jenni Haukio had a separate programme on the state visit. On Tuesday, together with Queen Silvia, she visited the Bernadette Library as well as Waldemarsudde Art Museum, which is presenting an exhibition on Åland to mark the 100th anniversary of the region. Photo: Pia Lundström/Embassy of Finland in Stockholm
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The first day of the state visit ended with a banquet hosted by the Swedish royal couple at the Royal Palace. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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The first day of the state visit ended with a banquet hosted by the Swedish royal couple at the Royal Palace. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Niinistö and King Carl Gustav XVI participated in a debate focusing on the green economy transition at the Finnish Institute in Stockholm on 18 May 2022. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Niinistö and King Carl Gustav XVI participated in a debate focusing on the green economy transition at the Finnish Institute in Stockholm on 18 May 2022. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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President Niinistö and King Carl Gustav XVI participated in a debate focusing on the green economy transition at the Finnish Institute in Stockholm on 18 May 2022. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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Visit to the Swedish Naval Base at Berga, where President Niinistö reviewed the operations of forces specialised in coastal conditions. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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Visit to the Swedish Naval Base at Berga, where President Niinistö reviewed the operations of forces specialised in coastal conditions. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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Visit to the Swedish Naval Base at Berga, where President Niinistö reviewed the operations of forces specialised in coastal conditions. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
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Visit to the Swedish Naval Base at Berga, where President Niinistö reviewed the operations of forces specialised in coastal conditions. Photo: Matti Porre/Office of the President of the Republic of Finland