The President and Prime Minister of Finland are in favor of immediate accession to NATO

LAST UPDATE: 11.25

Finland should apply to join NATO’s military alliance, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement on Thursday, in a major policy change sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay,” Niinisto and Marin said in a joint statement, according to Reuters.

It is noted that Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, has previously stayed out of NATO to maintain friendly relations with its eastern neighbor.

“We hope that the national steps that are still needed to make this decision will be taken quickly in the coming days,” they said.

Finland’s view of NATO has changed dramatically since Russia launched what it calls a “special operation” in Ukraine.

Finnish public opinion in favor of NATO membership has risen to record levels in recent months, with the latest poll by the public broadcaster YLE showing that 76% of Finns are in favor and only 12% against, while support is in favor. of accession used to remain at only 25% for years before the war in Ukraine.

While a non-aligned defense policy has long satisfied many Finns as a way to stay out of conflict, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led a growing number of Finns to reconsider friendly relations with Russia.

The war in Ukraine is of particular concern to Finland, as the country fought two wars with Russia between 1939 and 1944, thwarting an invasion attempt but losing about 10% of its territory in the ensuing peace agreement.

Finland’s rapid turn towards NATO is likely to drag neighboring Sweden as well.

Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats are expected to decide on Sunday on the possibility of joining NATO.

Russia has repeatedly warned both countries not to join the alliance. Only on March 12 did the Foreign Ministry warn it that “there will be serious military and political consequences” if they did.

The speed with which Finland decided to apply came as a surprise to many, with most political debates taking place in the background for fear of a Russian backlash.

In March, the Finnish government launched a security policy review and submitted a report to parliament for discussion in April, while holding talks with all parliamentary groups to secure support for the decision to join NATO.

In parallel with the internal process, the President and Prime Minister of Finland traveled to NATO countries to gain their support for Finland’s accession.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that Finland and Sweden could be allowed to join “soon enough”.

Finnish Foreign Minister: Finland’s accession to NATO will enhance security in the Baltic Sea region

Finland’s accession to NATO will boost security in the Baltic Sea region, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Thursday, referring to an area considered NATO’s weakest point.

“If Finland decides to apply, the country’s accession would enhance the security and stability of the Baltic Sea region and northern Europe,” Haavisto said.

“We are convinced that Finland would add value to NATO. The strength of our wartime defense forces is 280,000 troops and the trained reserve is 900,000 men and women,” he added.

Finland is also considering the European Union’s mutual defense agreement as a safeguard while processing its application to NATO, Haavisto said.

“Of course, we have discussed with our friends in the EU what kind of support Article 42.7 could be, for example, in these circumstances,” he said.

It is noted that this is the EU mutual defense clause, which stipulates that “if one Member State is the victim of an armed attack on its territory, the other Member States have an obligation to help and assist with all the means at their disposal”, according to them. United Nations rules of self-defense.

“I think it would be very important to emphasize solidarity under this article, because in our opinion this is something that already exists,” Haavisto said.