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FINLAND’S PRESIDENT AND prime minister have said they are in favour of rapidly applying for Nato membership “without delay,” paving the way for the alliance to expand amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The dramatic move by Finland was announced by President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
It means that Finland is all but certain to join Nato, though a few steps remain before the application process can begin.
Joint statement by the President of the Republic and Prime Minister of Finland on Finland's NATO membership:https://t.co/0xJ9OE70Cw@TPKanslia I @niinisto I @MarinSanna pic.twitter.com/ZviOgZ6v1n
— Finnish Government (@FinGovernment) May 12, 2022
Neighbouring Sweden is expected to decide on joining Nato in the coming days.
The Kremlin reacted to the development a few hours later, saying that Finland’s move to join Nato will not help stability and security in Europe.
Finland shares an 830-mile land border with Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia’s response to the move would depend on what specific steps Nato will take to bring its infrastructure close to Russian borders.
He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin already had ordered to work out steps to strengthen the country’s defences in the west in response to Nato’s expansion closer to Russian borders.
Previously, the Kremlin had warned of “military and political repercussions” if Sweden and Finland decide to join Nato.
Should they apply, there will be an interim period lasting from when an application has been handed in until all 30 Nato members’ parliaments have ratified it.
“Nato membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of Nato, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance,” Niinisto and Marin said in a joint statement.
“Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”
The statement today came a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited both Finland and Sweden to sign a military co-operation agreement.
The UK pledged yesterday to come to the aid of Sweden and Finland if the two Nordic nations came under attack.
During a joint news conference with Johnson and Niinisto in Helsinki, the Finnish head of state said Moscow could only blame itself should his nation of 5.5 million people become a Nato member.
“You (Russia) caused this. Look at the mirror,” Niinisto said pointedly on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Niinisto tweeted that he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Finland’s firm support for Ukraine and the country’s intention to join Nato.
I spoke with President @ZelenskyyUa and reiterated Finland's firm support for Ukraine. I informed him of Finland's steps towards NATO membership and he expressed his full support for it. pic.twitter.com/AubTdsDq9I
— Sauli Niinistö (@niinisto) May 12, 2022
Niinisto said that Zelenskyy “expressed his full support for it”.
In 2017, Sweden and Finland joined the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force, which is designed to be more flexible and respond more quickly than the larger Nato alliance.
It uses Nato standards and doctrine, so it can operate in conjunction with Nato, the United Nations or other multinational coalitions.
Fully operational since 2018, the force has held a number of exercises both independently and in cooperation with Nato.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Finland and Sweden have been pondering whether to abandon their historic, decades-old neutrality and join the 30-member Nato.
After Moscow launched its attack on Ukraine, public support in the two countries started to quickly shift toward membership in Nato, first in Finland and a bit later in Sweden.
The latest opinion poll conducted by Finnish public broadcaster YLE showed earlier this week that 76% of Finns are in favour of joining Nato, a big change from earlier years when only 20-30% of respondents favoured such military alignment.
Speaking to European Union politicians on Thursday as Niinisto’s and Marin’s announcement was made, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that “the war started by Russia jeopardises the security and stability of the whole of Europe”.
Haavisto said that Russia’s unpredictable behaviour is a serious concern for Finland, notably Moscow’s readiness to wage “high-risk operations” that could lead to many casualties, including among Russians themselves.
Along with Sweden, Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and has the longest border with Russia out of all the bloc’s 27 members.
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde tweeted that Finland’s announcement gave an “important message” and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that there were “strong messages” from Finland’s president and prime minister.
During the Cold War, Finland stayed away from Nato to avoid provoking the Soviet Union, instead opting to remain a neutral buffer between the East and the West while maintaining good relations with Moscow and also with the United States.
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said the military alliance would welcome Finland and Sweden — both of which have strong, modern militaries — with open arms and expects the accession process to be speedy and smooth.
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Makes sense. Why wouldn’t they given the neighbours…
I hope, in the event of a referendum, the idea of joining NATO will be turned down by the Irish people.
@Pata: the problen with that is, who are obliged to support us if we were invaded? Our neutrality deal with EU says thar we wont fight for them but they will fight for us.. not NATO… it smacks of…. cowardice…
@John Bathe: The only people to ever invade us are still here, and they’re members of NATO.
@Pata: Before all this I would have fully agree but things have changed a lot.
@Pata: if it came to it the government wouldn’t need a referendum. Just for a majority vote in the House. But they probably would hold a referendum anyway which would be heavily defeated if polls are anything to go by. However what’s going on now with Russia probably shows the need for some sort of military alliance for protection. Watching Ukraine getting destroyed without outside help must never be allowed to happen to another European country. There should be a new European military alliance so that an attack on one country is an attack on all. Doesn’t necessarily have to be an EU alliance. All of Europe should be protected.
@John Bathe: No, it smacks of neutrality and the EU respecting Irelands neutral status in the first instance.
Now a lot of European politicians that support a Billionare globalist economic agenda that directs even more wealth to the super rich, also want to create an an all inclusive EU military to enforce this agenda militarily, in the same way that the USA does globally.
In my experience the majority of ordinary people in Ireland that support an EU military, are old enough that they personally will never have to serve in it and well off enough that their children won’t be forced into it due to poverty as happens in the USA.
@John Bathe: another Irish solution to an Irish problem. Bury our heads in the sand and hope for the best.
Support for joining NATO in Finland has gone from 20 to 76% since Putin illegally invaded Ukraine, the Finns understand Russia’s aggression after being invaded by them in 1939, the length of Russia’s border will now double, and the sooner Sweden fullows Finland the better, Switzerland are seriously considering joining NATO with only the far right against it, not exactly what Putin wanted..
They’ve no real choice the way things are going.
Ireland needs to join NATO
@Robert Johnson Fagan: Russia invaded 4 countries that were neutral at the start of the Second World War so you are right neutrality won’t protect us.
However geography is our friend. Putin can’t invade ireland without going through a number of nato countries first. So not necessary for our protection.
Notwithstanding that I do think that Putin is pure evil. The Hitler or Stalin of our time and sitting on the sidelines doesn’t seem right. So I can see both sides of the argument.
@John Comerford: its not like Russia would drive through Europe to get to us. All they would need to do is land a few ships off the west coast. We dont have any way to stop them.
It might have been wiser for all negotiations to havd been in secret with Finland announcing they are now in NATO (although the Finnish citizens probably need to be consulted first). If Putin regards Finland being in NATO as a threat, the period between saying you’re going to join, and actually having joined, might be dangerous.
@Mickey Finn: Putin is struggling to deal with Ukraine, Finland on top of that is too much. Now is a good time while he can’t do much about it
@Mickey Finn: there could be some truth to that on the other hand the public negotiations is a sign to Putin and more importantly the people one step below him that he has seriously miscalculated by invading Ukraine. I think if Putin were to consider establishing the war beyond Ukraine someone would take him out. I have to believe that there are smart people in power over there that know this is a cluster feck and escalating things further would be the end of Russia.
@Mickey Finn: Such secrecy isn’t possible or advisable. Considering that 30 governments have to decide, and that the citizens of those 30 states must be willing to put their lives at risk…
The Finnish voters will enjoy paying higher taxes to give to the US and Germany for expensive weapons. Now that the Ukraine war is almost over, Nato must be planning further expansion and further provocations.
@Bramley Hawthorne: You drunk because this was started by Putin and nobody else.
@Bramley Hawthorne: if your bordered Russia would you not sleep better at night knowing you had NATO’s protection? Russia will continue to pick of non nato members to reclaim the old Soviet Union. They don’t want to rejoin for a reason.
@Bramley Hawthorne: … and delusional if you think the war is almost over.
@Bramley Hawthorne:.. pro russian twaddle…sad .sad.. sad.. most people in ireland too intelligent to believe your rantings . Hard luck chief..
@Bramley Hawthorne: Finland already have one of the highest defence spending as a percentage of GDP so no this won’t be an increased burden on their tax payers. You really should check your facts before posting.
Putin has already warned Finland if they join Nato be prepared to suffer the consequences.
@Mac Dara Powell: So you think the Finns should back down in the face of a threat by a bully? The threats are empty – the Russians would have no chance at the moment against Finland. The Finns killed 300,000 Russians in 3 months when they tried invade them in 1939. The Finns can look forward to empty threats and cyber attacks but that is it.
@Mac Dara Powell: he has but his days of threatening neighbours needs to end. Who is he to say what another sovereign country can and can’t do. As someone else said he barely has the ability to wage war in one corner of Ukraine, taking on another country with an even better equipped military than Ukraine would be suicide.
@Mac Dara Powell: that’s the point,it’s like a bully hitting you in the face and you say I am getting my big brother and bully says that’s provoking me,russia and mainly puitn has caused this
@John Comerford: John I never said the Finn’s should back down and quoting that the Finn’s killed 300,000 Russians back in 1939 was very much a different time. Putin now has much more capabilities as he has nuclear weapons that not alone could wipe Finland out but the entire world.
@Mac Dara Powell: nuclear weapons are not military weapons and using one against Finland would be detrimental to St petersburg. Putins army is being destroyed in Ukraine as such now so he couldn’t fight on 2 fronts. He doesn’t have the resources.
@Mac Dara Powell: and NATO have an equal number of nuclear weapons. Russia should not use them unless nato invade Russia. Which will never happen. Mutually assured destruction. Russian threats are empty. The Finnish army is one of the largest in Europe
@John Comerford: I think I recall reading that nato has less nukes than Russia by a decent amount. The only way to counter the Russian nuke numbers is for the non nato country’s in eu with nukes to add to the nato pile.
@Peter: Peter nato countries and Russia both have approx 6,000 nukes each. Only 9 countries in the world have nukes. France is the only eu country with them. There are no other countries in Europe with nukes that are not members of nato.
Ukraine gave up there’s based on a promise by the Russians not to invade them. Russian promises aren’t worth much.
Wonder if Boris will stick by the deals he signed yesterday?
@Jonathan O’Riordan: “Deals? What deals? Yesterday I confided totally in Article 24, whilst playing wiff-waff single-handedly on the beaches. I know nothing of these deals of which you speak”.
The Finns need to calm down and take a good look at themselves. Their Neutrality over the last 77 years has served them well in that they have had uninterrupted Peace and Prosperity. Why on earth would Finland choose to become like Ukraine?
Mindbogglingly powerful , the effects of US REGIME and NATO has.
@Mike Walsh: 75% of the Finnish public support the move. It is their decision and if I had Putin on my border I would want nato protection too. So are you saying that Russia would be justified in invading Finland because they decide to join a defence alliance? We should all just surrender to Russia.
@Mike Walsh: Finland know that russia won’t attack a nato country as the Russians forces would not last a week against a proper military. Russia also tried invade Finland before – that didn’t end well for them.
@Mike Walsh: “why on earth would Finland choose to be like Ukraine”. You have answered your own question. The arro gance is breathtaking
@Mike Walsh: Don’t you worry too much about it there Mike. It wouldn’t take too much to make your mind boggle at any rate. Maybe give your head a wobble every now and see if that resets your algorithm.
Full neutrality is the best security not only for Finland. Where are we heading now? In the Book of Daniel, we read, “At the appointed time [the king of the north] will return back [Russian troops will return to where they were previously stationed. It also means means military action, a major crisis, plus the break-up of the EU and NATO], and will enter into the south [because of ethnic conflict (Matthew 24:7)], but it will not be as the former [Georgia - 2008] or as the latter [the current military action also will not evolve into WW3. This will happen only later, after Russia returns], then the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [the distant West] will come against him, and (he) will broke down [mentally], and will go back.” (11:29, 30a) And then “the great power sword” will be used. (Revelation 6:4) Jesus characterized him in this way: “A frightening things both and extraordinary (related to unusual phenomena) from sky powerful will be.” For that reason there will be significant tremors along the length and breadth of the regions [of strategic importance] and famines, and pestilences. Some ancient manuscripts contain the words “and frosts”. The Aramaic Peshitta: “and will be great frosts”. (Luke 21:11) We call this today “nuclear winter”. In Mark 13:8 there are also words of Jesus: “and disorders” (in the sense of confusion and chaos). The Aramaic Peshitta: “and confusion” (on the state of public order). Jesus stated: “But all these things are a beginning of birth-pains.” (Matthew 24:8, DLNT)
@Ryszard Ewiak: pity we don’t have the dislike button anymore
@Ryszard Ewiak: Moscow invaded 4 neutral countries at the start of World War Two. The nazi’s invade 5. They would have invaded ireland if the British didn’t stop them in the Battle of Britain. Operation Green.
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