Boris Pushes Boat Out For Swedes And Finland To Join Nato Alliance

Boris Johnson yesterday signed security pacts with Sweden and Finland in a signal of Western defiance of Vladimir Putin and said he could be prepared to put British boots on the ground in Scandinavia if Russia attacked.

- Macer Hall

The Prime Minister agreed military cooperation and mutual defence support on a whistlestop tour of both countries.

And in a message to the Kremlin, he insisted the two nations must be free to join Nato "without fear of retaliation”.

He confirmed he could send troops to help in the event of a Russian invasion at a news conference last night, alongside Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.

Asked if he would put “British boots on the ground”, Mr Johnson said: “I think the solemn declaration is itself clear...that in the event of a disaster, or in the event of an attack on either of us, then yes, we will come to each other's assistance, including with military assistance.”

Victory

He added: "The nature of that assistance will of course depend upon the request of the other party. But it's also intended to be the foundation of an intensification of our security and our defence relationship in other ways as well."

His day began in Sweden, where PM Magdalena Andersson welcomed him to her country retreat, Harpsund, with a rowing boat trip.

Mr Johnson remarked that the Brits and Swedes had already worked well together.