In contrast to some of the other nation states that have been added to NATO’s defense obligations in the last quarter century, Finland could be more an asset than a liability to the rest of NATO. The Finns are technologically advanced, intelligent, tough, pragmatic, and fiscally responsible.
It’s unfortunate that many of the other NATO members (including the USA) exhibit only one or two of those same characteristics.
In contrast to some of the other nation states that have been added to NATO’s defense obligations in the last quarter century, Finland could be more an asset than a liability to the rest of NATO.
Well, if you think Putin has backed himself into a corner and is starting to show signs of instability now, this would push him over the ledge. Finland was once part of Russia and currently shares a 1,300+km border with them.
AW
Well, if you think Putin has backed himself into a corner and is starting to show signs of instability now, this would push him over the ledge. Finland was once part of Russia and currently shares a 1,300+km border with them.
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I wish that both Finland and Sweden join NATO ASAP. Time to stop hiding behind a phony neutrality. Norway has a border with Russia and is a member of NATO.
2/26/2022
HELSINKI – Finland and Sweden have brushed off warnings from neighboring Russia that their possible joining of NATO would trigger “serious military-political consequences” from Moscow for the two countries.
A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry Friday voiced concern about what it described as efforts by the United States and some of its allies to “drag” Finland and Sweden into NATO and warned that Moscow would be forced to take retaliatory measures if they join the alliance.
Though not members, Finland and Sweden closely cooperate with NATO, allowing, among other things, the alliance’s troops to exercise on their soil. Helsinki and Stockholm have also substantially intensified their bilateral defense cooperation in the past years, and secured close military cooperation with the United States, Britain and neighboring NATO member Norway.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/finland-swede…
At a recent NATO press conference in January 2022 -
Joosep Värk, Estonian Public Broadcast:
So during the last weeks, there have been discussions in Finland and Sweden about NATO membership. I would like to ask, in case they should want to join would and could there be a fast track for them to join NATO?
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General:
Finland and Sweden are very close partners. They are an enhanced opportunity partners. We have worked together with them, we have exercised together with them, we have trained together with them. They meet NATO standards in most areas. They have very well organized and well governed defence and security institutions. So in many ways, of course, they are very close to NATO in all aspects. So in that sense, this can go very quickly if they decide to apply.
But at the end of the day, this will be a political decision. That has to be taken in Sweden and in Finland if they want to apply. And I think that it is a political decision among 30 Allies. But I think it’s quite obvious that since we are so close already, if the political will is there, then the whole process can move quite quickly.
Alar Karis, President of Estonia:
And of course from our position in Estonia, we would be very glad, because we’re also not only close partners, but they’re also geographically very close. But then again, it’s up to these countries to decide.
https://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natohq/opinions_190740.htm
Maintaining freedom from its powerful neighbour for a century has not been easy, and Finland has had to make sacrifices to survive. Finland fought two wars against the Soviet Union between 1939 and 1944, and lost large areas of its territory and a major port city Viipuri (or as the Russians renamed it, Vyborg) as a result.
Jaak