"At this stage, we are looking at different alternatives for Nato's presence in Finland. The time for possible solutions is further along in time, but they must be justifiable from NATO's point of view and beneficial to Finland's security, said Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen (C) on Monday in a speech at a national defense course in Helsinki.

Questions connected to NATO's command and force structure are not something Finland can answer alone, Kaikkonen pointed out.

"Of course, the various approaches and aims which suit our interests must be thoroughly evaluated by our defense administration, but this is above all about discussions and preparations with our future allies, said the Minister of Defense, who also added that Nato has not pushed its structures on any of its member states.

Finland and Sweden are "invited" into Nato, which means that they are invited to the alliance's meetings and can participate with the right to speak, but not the right to vote. Approval of their applications for membership is pending in Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey.