The Nordic country that shares 800-mile border with Russia looks to end decades of non-alignment

Finland has formally confirmed it intends to join Nato, abandoning decades of military non-alignment in a historic decision triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Finland is applying for Nato membership,” said the country’s president, Sauli Niinistö, at a press conference. “A protected Finland is being born as part of a stable, strong and responsible Nordic region. We gain security and we also share it. It’s good to keep in mind that security isn’t a zero-sum game.”


The prime minister, Sanna Marin, said the proposal would now be sent to parliament for ratification. “Our decision is historic,” she said. “As a member of Nato, we will also be responsible for the security of the alliance as a whole.”

With neighbouring Sweden’s ruling party also holding a decisive meeting on whether to join the 30-member defensive alliance next week, Moscow’s onslaught on Ukraine looks set to usher in the expansion of Nato that Vladimir Putin claimed he wanted to prevent.

Finland shares an 810-mile (1,300km) border with Russia and, like Sweden, has maintained strict policies of neutrality then non-alignment since the end of the second world war, viewing Nato membership as a provocation of Moscow.


However, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February has led to a profound change in its thinking, with public support for Nato accession trebling to about 75%. Polls show a majority of between 50 and 60% are also in favour in Sweden.

Three days after Finland’s leaders said it “must apply for Nato membership without delay”, the membership proposal is expected to be laid before parliament for ratification on Monday.

Niinistö called his Russian counterpart, Putin, on Saturday and informed him his country aimed to join Nato, in a conversation he described as “direct and straightforward”. He added: “Avoiding tensions was considered important.”

Russia has repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden against joining Nato, saying such a move would oblige it to “restore military balance” by strengthening its defences in the Baltic Sea region, including by deploying nuclear weapons.


Putin responded to Niinistö’s call by saying Nato membership “would be a mistake, since there is no threat to Finland’s security”, according to a readout of the call released by the Kremlin.

After a cross-party Swedish parliamentary review on Friday said joining Nato would boost Sweden’s national security and help stabilise the Nordic region, leaders of the country’s ruling Social Democrats were also poised on Sunday to jettison the party’s longstanding opposition to Nato membership.

With a decision expected in the early evening, Swedish media reported that – assuming Helsinki sends its application in on Monday – Stockholm is likely to follow suit as early as Tuesday, with the alliance set to launch the accession process immediately afterwards.

Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has said both countries would be “welcomed with open arms” and that the accession process would be quick, though formal approval by all the alliance’s members could take several months.

However, Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has expressed his opposition to the move, based on what he said was the countries’ accommodating attitude towards the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK), which is on the EU’s list of terrorist organisations.

Nato’s deputy secretary general, Mircea Geoană, said on Sunday he was confident Turkey’s concerns over Finland and Sweden joining the alliance could be addressed. “I am confident if these countries decide to seek membership in Nato we will be able to welcome them to find all conditions for consensus to be met,” he said.

Finland’s foreign minister, Pekka Haavisto, also said he was “confident” of reaching an agreement with Turkey.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/15/finland-formally-confirms-intention-to-join-nato-russia

Mynd44 Lalasticlala Seun

President Sauli Niinistö of Finland is a man with huge balls

To think he even called Putin and literally told him to his face "Dude Finland will join NATO. The decision has been made and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it"

Chai nobody is afraid of Russia again. Putin has failed

Russia's Invasion of Ukraine (a Sovereign nation) was executed on the premise that they don't want them to Join NATO. They don't want NATO at their border.

81 days and counting, They have been unable to conquer Ukraine...

Now their neighbors to the North are ready to Join NATO..

Russia have lost already. Because even if they conquer Ukraine, NATO has fully come to her doorsteps.

The inevitable Ascension of Finland and Sweden to the alliance is a big win for NATO and a big blow to Putin's Russia

The Finnish army is more sophisticated than the Ukrainian military.

All those talk of neutrality by Finland and Sweden over the years was to Appease Russia.
But it is now obvious that the appeasement policy would never change the plan of Putin's Russia to restore the old Soviet Union.

The Barbaric act of Putin's War in Ukraine have given them a leeway to boldly join NATO.

The Demon that is looking for Blood cannot be Appeased with Palm Oil.

Good decision

You no join EU or UNICEF or even LGBTQ. You openly declared to join NATO, a war coalition.


I hope no one will cry on the internet when the same war visits Helsinki??

Comedian Zelensky did more than this only to end up begging for arms and food.

I hope darling Finland will not end up like Ukraine

What a mistake that will bring calamity to Finland,

VeryWickedMan:
You no join EU or UNICEF or even LGBTQ. You openly declared to join NATO, a war coalition.


I hope no one will cry on the internet when the same war visits Helsinki??

Comedian Zelensky did more than this only to end up begging for arms and food.

That so called comedian Is bravely standing toe to toe to a fascist and giving him bloody nose after bloody nose.

He represents the bravery of others now because if a "Comedian" can stand up to Putin then anybody can!

Cubalabloo:
What a mistake that will bring calamity to Finland,

And you think Finland gives a hoot about Russian opinion? Their land, their decisions!

KillerCrocodile:
Russia's Invasion of Ukraine (a Sovereign nation) was executed on the premise that they don't want them to Join NATO. They don't want NATO at their border.

81 days and counting, They have been unable to conquer to Ukraine...

Now their neighbors to the North are ready to Join NATO..

Russia have lost already. Because even if they conquer Ukraine, NATO has fully come to her doorsteps.

The inevitable Ascension of Finland and Sweden to the alliance is a big win for NATO and a big blow to Putin's Russia

The Finnish army is more sophisticated than the Ukrainian military.

All those talk of neutrality by Finland and Sweden over the years was to Appease Russia.
But it is now obvious that the appeasement policy would never change the plan of Putin's Russia to restore the old Soviet Union.

The Barbaric act of Putin's War in Ukraine have given them a leeway to boldly join NATO.

The Demon that is looking for Blood cannot be Appeased with Palm Oil.

Exactly.

Same way Ukraine tried to appease Russia by surrendering all her Nuclear weapons to them but how did they turn out today?

Russia still attacked them so any and every appeasement posture towards Russia must be jettisoned and Sweden/Finland have woken up to this fact.

VeryWickedMan:
[s][/s]

So why is he crying for aid every week??

So his army can keep kicking Putin's butt as they are currently doing very effectively.

They just drove Russian forces from Kharkiv and have now engaged them in Izyum enroute Donbas.

E don be for Putin

Finns need to take a leaf from Ukraine comical leadership. Comedian Zelensky used to be adamant on NATO membership when speaking to Putin. Today, Zelensky is a sorry sight of himself. His country in ruins.

... And if you ask him now if he will to continue his adamant wish to join nato he will tell you no.....he has even said he is ready to drop nato requests if it will end the war...

......... Every time the U.S saves a country in the name of freedom and democracy, that country just becomes a cemetery. �........

. Sad that Finland and Sweden have been deceived by NATO to place their vulnerable populations in harms way. This is a the wrong time of NATO history in Europe because the WW3 is in the making.

Kingsnairaland:
Finns need to take a leaf from Ukraine comical leadership. Comedian Zelensky used to be adamant on NATO membership when speaking to Putin. Today, Zelensky is a sorry sight of himself. His country in ruins.

... And if you ask him now if he will to continue his adamant wish to join nato he will tell you no.....he has even said he is ready to drop nato requests if it will end the war...

......... Every time the U.S saves a country in the name of freedom and democracy, that country just becomes a cemetery. �........

. Sad that Finland and Sweden have been deceived by NATO to place their vulnerable populations in harms way. This is a the wrong time of NATO history in Europe because the WW3 is in the making.

You are a very poor student of history.

Russia pushed Finland and Sweden into making this decision because just like them, Ukraine had an appeasement posture with Russia but that did not stop Russia from attacking Ukraine.

They say a stitch in time saves nine. Finland and Sweden are making their stitch in time.

Their country, their choice. Same way None of them can tell Russia what to do or not do is same way Russia cannot tell them what to do or not do.

One idiot will come here some Months later, and claim Finland doesn't want to join NATO, that Russia started an unprovoked war.

I remembered when Russia annexed Finland from Sweden, and also grant them independence, after annexing a very import land from them.

The big question is, does Finland have more land to give?

Poor Finland, Russia don't go to war, without taking chunk of your land.

Elvictor:


One idiot will come here some Months later, and claim Finland doesn't want to join NATO, that Russia started an unprovoked war.

I remembered when Russia annexed Finland from Sweden, and also grant them independence, after annexing a very import land from them.

The big question is, does Finland have more land to give?

Poor Finland, Russia don't go to war, without taking chunk of your land.

And in ur shalow mind u think that he is too stupid to attack Finland with all the security assurance with the U.S?

ObamaMessi:
And in ur shalow mind u think that he is too stupid to attack Finland with all the security assurance with the U.S?

Oh, sorry, dear, how many security assurance has US granted to countries round the world?

ObamaMessi:
And in ur shalow mind u think that he is too stupid to attack Finland with all the security assurance with the U.S?

The fear of NATO is the beginning of wisdom for Russia.

Small Lithuania a NATO country Russia cannot even dare touch how much more USA.

Even a mentally unstable Putin cannot dare.

Igbofam:


The fear of NATO is the beginning of wisdom for Russia.

Small Lithuania a NATO country Russia cannot even dare touch how much more USA.

Even a mentally unstable Putin cannot dare.

That is your business, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR GERMANY AND IRAQ GAS DEAL? that you have been spamming every threads in Nairaland with?

Elvictor:


Oh, sorry, dear, how many security assurance has US granted to countries round the world?

Oh sorry dear.I cant tell, but let putin attack Finland, we want to verify somethin

Igbofam:


The fear of NATO is the beginning of wisdom for Russia.

Small Lithuania a NATO country Russia cannot even dare touch how much more USA.

Even a mentally unstable Putin cannot dare.

Finland has formaly declared its intention to join NATO but Russia is yet to launch special military operation there.Why? Appleyard baralatie sunboy Shogsman seunny4lif come and answer this question

ObamaMessi:
Finland has formaly declared its intention to join NATO but Russia is yet to launch special military operation there.Why? Appleyard baralatie sunboy Shogsman seunny4lif come and answer this question

Even the President of Finland called Putin directly over the phone and told him:

"Hey PouTin Finland has unanimously decided to join NATO and you can wail if you want but that is the much you can do. You cannot do more than a hanging pant"

Putin should try and invade Finland na

ObamaMessi:
Oh sorry dear.I cant tell, but let putin attack Finland, we want to verify somethin

Like you verified in Ukraine

Or the assurance UK gave to Belgium and ran away when German soldiers invaded?

Igbofam:


Even the President of Finland called Putin directly over the phone and told him:

"Hey PouTin Finland has unanimously decided to join NATO and you can wail if you want but that is the much you can do. You cannot do more than a hanging pant"

Putin should try and invade Finland na

I'm praying he do that

Elvictor:


Like you verified in Ukraine

Or the assurance UK gave to Belgium and ran away when German soldiers invaded?

We dont want ukraine or belgium, we want to verify it io FINLAND

ObamaMessi:
We dont want ukraine or belgium, we want to verify it io FINLAND

So it isn't the same assurance, Davido was right

Em no go invade tiny Finland, no land to annex there

It will be bombed to ashes

Elvictor:



So it isn't the same assurance, Davido was right

Em no go invade tiny Finland, no land to annex there

It will be bombed to ashes

let him try it is all we demand

ObamaMessi:
let him try it is all we demand

He will, make them apply for NATO, let them stop announcing it to media.

Make them go apply

ObamaMessi:
let him try it is all we demand

One pained Putin asslicker is saying Finland should first apply for NATO membership and not just announcing it on media

Ask him if Ukraine applied before Russia attacked her.

Now they want to shift the goalpost to "FINLAND SHOULD APPLY FIRST"

If Dem born Putin Grandmama well he should attack Finland afterall Finland shares borders with them same way Ukraine does.

Elvictor:


He will, make them apply for NATO, let them stop announcing it to media.

Make them go apply

It is traditional to announce on the media.Ninisto called putin and warned that "if u have steel balls, attack Finland"

Igbofam:


One pained Putin asslicker is saying Finland should first apply for NATO membership and not just announcing it on media

Ask him if Ukraine applied before Russia attacked her.

Now they want to shift the goalpost to "FINLAND SHOULD APPLY FIRST"

If Dem born Putin Grandmama well he should attack Finland afterall Finland shares borders with them same way Ukraine does.

They will shift the goal post to "let Finland attack Russia"