Kai Sauer, Finland’s Undersecretary of State for Foreign Security Policy, told GZERO Media that as Finland awaits NATO membership his nation is already contributing to the alliance.

“We are a security provider. We are investing in stability and security in our region,” Sauer said. “We are bringing a lot of capabilities to the alliance. So, it's in everybody's interest, also in Turkey's interest, that Finland and Sweden will become members.”

Sauer spoke to GZERO Media on the sidelines of the 77th UN General Assembly, where conversations about the war in Ukraine and the global crises it has sparked were front and center.

On setbacks to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, 17 goals the organization hopes to attain by 2030 as a blueprint for greater peace and equality, Sauer said he remains cautiously optimistic.

“We are still working towards 2030, and hopefully we can gain as much progress as we can, Sauer said. “But the fact that we have been thrown into a crisis in Europe, it's not helping in achieving those goals.”