Russia considers Finland’s NATO membership ‘threat’

“The move of neighboring Finland to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will certainly pose a threat to Russia. The expansion of NATO and its approach to Russia’s borders does not make the world and Europe more stable or secure,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Alarabiya newspaper today (May 12). ).

“Everything will depend on how the accession process goes, or how close the military infrastructure is to our borders,” Peskov added.

According to Alarabiya, the Kremlin spokesman’s comments came just hours after Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced that the country must apply to join NATO “immediately.” “.

“We hope that the steps necessary to make this decision will be taken expeditiously within the next few days. NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security, and Finland’s membership will strengthen this entire defense alliance,” the joint statement of the President and Prime Minister of Finland stated.

The Finnish Parliament is expected to approve the application to join NATO on May 16 at the earliest.

In another development, after the announcement of joining NATO was announced by the Finnish leadership, a series of heads of the countries belonging to this military bloc such as Poland, Denmark, Romania… spoke out expressing their support. support the above move of the Helsinki government.

“Finland’s decision to join NATO is good news for both Polish and European security. I congratulate my Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Marin on this important step. Poland will support Finland’s accession to NATO as quickly and smoothly as possible,” Polish President Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said his country would of course “welcome Finland with all its heart”. “This will strengthen NATO’s overall security. Denmark will do everything possible to support the fast accession process, after Finland officially submits the application,” Frederiksen posted on Twitter.

Tuan Tran