On Tuesday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson presented the prestigious Order of the Polar Star medals to Finland’s former Prime Minister Sanna Marin, former foreign affairs minister Pekka Haavisto, and foreign affairs counsellor Petri Hakkarainen.
The ceremony took place at the Swedish Embassy in Helsinki, marking a moment of profound recognition for Finnish leaders’ contributions to Sweden’s Nato membership process.
Sweden honours Finnish leaders for supporting Nato accession
Kristersson emphasised that these distinctions are a gesture of “immense gratitude” for the recipients’ key roles in Sweden’s historic journey towards joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).
While both Sweden and Finland submitted their applications to the defence alliance in May 2022, Finland completed its accession in April 2023, with Sweden following in March 2024. Despite the different timelines, Finnish leaders consistently advocated for the two countries to join the alliance in tandem, underscoring the strength of their regional cooperation.
The Order of the Polar Star and its significance
The Order of the Polar Star (Nordstjärneorden) is one of Sweden’s highest civilian honours, traditionally awarded to foreign nationals for meritorious service. This year, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden approved the awards on a Government recommendation, extending them to ten foreign citizens for their efforts related to Sweden’s Nato membership. Finland’s former President Sauli Niinistö had previously received Sweden’s Order of the Seraphim (Serafimerorden) for his own role in Nordic defence cooperation.
Strengthening Nordic security and Nato ties
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard noted that the honourees “made significant efforts in support of Sweden’s accession to Nato.” The expansion of the alliance with both Sweden and Finland as members represents a major shift in the regional security landscape, given the two countries’ shared border and close political ties.
Sweden’s official entry into Nato in 2024 is seen by analysts as reinforcing both Nordic and transatlantic security at a critical moment for European defence.
Regional cooperation and international recognition
The awarding of the Order of the Polar Star highlights the close relationship between Sweden and Finland, and the importance of cross-border cooperation in ensuring security in Northern Europe. The collaboration between the two countries during the Nato accession process has been widely acknowledged by international observers, who underline that united Nordic action can serve as a model for diplomatic effectiveness in global security challenges.
Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson concluded the event with a message of appreciation:
“These distinctions are an expression of our immense gratitude for those individuals’ efforts in conjunction with Sweden joining Nato. Sweden’s membership makes Nato stronger and Sweden more secure.”
The ceremony not only celebrated the honourees’ diplomatic achievements but also reaffirmed the enduring partnership between Sweden and Finland within the context of Nato and European security.
