Finland submits application to join NATO

In a joint statement on May 12, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said: “Being a member of NATO will strengthen Finland’s security. As a NATO member, Finland will also help strengthen the alliance’s defenses. Finland must apply to join NATO without further delay. We hope that the remaining necessary steps to implement this decision will take place quickly within a few days“.

The announcement by President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin means that Finland will almost certainly apply to join NATO, although there are still some steps before the registration process can begin. Meanwhile, neighboring Sweden is expected to decide on whether to apply to join NATO in the coming days.

Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border and a troubled past with Russia, has traditionally remained outside the North Atlantic Treaty bloc, maintaining neutrality and friendly relations with its neighbour. East.

Finland’s move was anticipated, after the country’s government submitted a national security report to parliament mentioning the possibility of joining NATO.

Since Russia began its military campaign in Ukraine, Finnish public support for joining NATO has increased from 30 to 80 percent. According to CNN, after the Finnish parliament approved this intention in principle, removing the final legal hurdles, NATO is expected to invite Finland to negotiate the process.

Moscow had previously warned both Finland and Sweden against joining NATO, saying it would lead to consequences.

According to European diplomats, Finland can join the alliance quickly after the negotiation process begins, because it has equipped military equipment suitable for Western allies, including the United States. , besides also meeting many membership criteria.

European defense officials recently suggested that NATO countries would offer some security guarantees to Finland during the accession process, in case Russia reacts. On May 11, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new security treaties with Finland and Sweden, pledging to support the two countries if one of them is attacked.

Finland has historically had high defense spending and still has a mandatory conscription policy for all adult males. NATO officials all concede that Finland’s entry into the alliance would be a significant boost in dealing with Russia given how seriously the Nordic nation has historically been serious about its own security.

Before starting the military campaign in Ukraine, Russia stated that it wanted to see NATO return to the scope of the 1990s.