Finland moved one step closer to joining NATO on Wednesday after its major parliamentary groups voiced support for some form of military alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Finnish parliament on Wednesday began debating the possibility of Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, joining NATO.
Prime Minister Sana Marin’s Social Democrats have stopped mentioning NATO in their speeches, but have nevertheless voiced support for an idea of ​​a military alliance.
“It is clear that Russia’s actions have brought Finland several steps closer to the necessary military alignment,” Social Democrat leader Andy Lindman told parliamentary colleagues.
Finland is a close ally of NATO, but has maintained a militarily neutral status. Now, however, its defense and security need reinforcement, and a decision on whether to apply for NATO membership could be made within weeks, Marin said.
The government also said that public support for joining the alliance could be measured through a parliamentary vote instead of a referendum, although no date has been set for such a vote.
The Social Democrats’ biggest ally in Finland’s five-party coalition government, the Center Party, has said it is ready to support a decision in favor of NATO.
Eight parliamentary group leaders in 10 voiced support for either NATO membership or military alignment, with Left Alliance leader Youssi Saramo saying it should not be a trivial decision and calling for a broader debate.
The Left Alliance, which has 16 seats in the 200-seat parliament and is part of the Marin governing coalition, has traditionally opposed NATO, but said it would not leave the government if the parliamentary majority supported membership.
A nationalist lawmaker representing a group with only one parliamentary seat was the only one to express outright opposition to Finland’s possible bid to join NATO.
Source: Capital
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