THE Finland decided to apply for membership in NATOannounced today the president and the prime minister of the Scandinavian country, something that is a direct consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
«It’s a historic day. A new era beginsSaid Finnish President Sauli Niinisto during a press conference.
Why are Sweden and Finland not members of NATO?
Both countries remain non-aligned after World War II, despite having small military forces relative to Russia.
Finland, according to the APE-BPE, gained its independence from Russia in 1917 and was confronted by her in two wars, during which she lost part of her territory from Moscow. Finland signed a Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Aid Agreement with Russia in 1948, consolidating a degree of economic and political dependence and remaining militarily isolated from western Europe.
The end of the Cold War, which led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, allowed Finland to emerge from Russia’s shadow as the threat from Moscow diminished.
Helsinki relied on its own military deterrence and friendly relations with Moscow to maintain peace. But with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special military operation,” Russian President Vladimir Putin seems far from friendly.
Sweden has not waged war for 200 years and post-war foreign policy focused on supporting democracy internationally, multilateral dialogue, and nuclear disarmament.
Stockholm reduced its army after the Cold War, hoping that in the event of war it could delay Russian advance until aid arrived. Putin’s attack on Ukraine has made the bailout much more attractive.
However, many on the left in Sweden remain skeptical of the US and NATO security agenda, which ultimately builds on the deterrent provided by the US nuclear arsenal.
Both Finland and Sweden switched from formal neutrality to military non-alignment in 1995 when they joined the European Union.
Joining the Alliance will bring Sweden and Finland under the umbrella of Article 5, which guarantees that an attack on a NATO ally is an attack on everyone.
Reactions and threats from Russia
Moscow has repeatedly warned of “serious consequences” if Finland and Sweden join NATO, saying it will strengthen its land, naval and air forces in the Baltic Sea and raise the possibility of developing nuclear weapons in the region.
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that end of Finland’s military neutrality would be a “mistake”during a telephone conversation with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin.
On Wednesday, the Finnish president, when asked about the dangers of the country’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, said: “My answer to Putin would be that you caused this and you have to look in the mirror.”
In another move indicative of Moscow’s stance, electricity exports from Russia to Finland were suspended overnight, following an announcement by a Russian supplier, an official from the Finnish power grid operator told AFP.
On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov stressed that Finland’s accession to NATO would “definitely” pose a threat to Russia,
The Kola Peninsula, in northwestern Russia, in the Arctic, east of the border with Finland and Norway, is a “strategic stronghold” that Moscow considers key to its national security and is also the base of Russia’s Northern Fleet. Russia’s second largest city, St. Petersburg, is located approximately 170 km from the border with Finland.
Source: News Beast
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