Categories: WORLD

Press Review: What Finland’s Pursuit Of NATO Membership Means And Siemens To Exit Russia

Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto (R) and Prime Minister Sanna Marin at press conference in the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland.

Helsinki is expecting to apply for NATO membership, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced on May 12. Russia immediately reacted to the news by announcing possible reciprocal steps, both military-technical and otherwise, if Helsinki becomes part of the military bloc. Together with Finland, its closest neighbor, Sweden, is also thinking about joining NATO. According to experts interviewed by Izvestia, the participation of Helsinki and Stockholm in the US-led military bloc will fundamentally change the political alignment in Europe.

According to Finland’s state television and radio company Yle as of May 9, 2022, 76% of its citizens support joining NATO. “Such a sharp change in public opinion is associated with Russia’s special military operation on the territory of Ukraine. It was a shock for Finnish society and the political class – they refused to believe in a possibility of this,” Director General of the Russian Council on International Affairs Andrey Kortunov explained to Izvestia. “The uncertainty is rising for Finland. It is changing its attitude towards NATO and, in a sense, it is justifying its desire to guarantee its security given the shift in geopolitical conditions,” he added.

Sponsored

The question is how stable this attitude is, the expert noted. It is not known whether such support for NATO will continue in Finland in a few months or years. Nevertheless, the political leadership decided not to wait.

Together with Finland, its closest neighbor, Sweden, also plans to join NATO. “With the admission of these two countries into its ranks, NATO will make gains in the northwestern European zone. In terms of infrastructure, Norway will also be strengthened, which is quite vigorously involved in the activities of the alliance,” Head of the Center for Arctic Studies at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valery Zhuravel told Izvestia. “Taking into account the fact that the land border of Finland with Russia is about 1,300 km, for Moscow this is a matter of principle,” he added.

Kortunov highlighted that the long Russian-Finnish border almost doubles the line of contact between the Russian Federation and NATO. “This border could also require some strengthening and modernization. In general, these two countries joining the alliance will lead to a change in the balance of forces in the Baltic Sea. If we exclude the Russian water area, then in a sense it becomes NATO’s sea,” he said.
SPONSORED
ABN Editor 2

An open source journalist and content manager

Recent Posts

We’ve Made Achievements, Nigeria On Its Way To Recovery, Tinubu Says At First Media Chat

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria is on the path to recovery despite…

5 hours ago

No Regret Removing Fuel Subsidy, Tinubu Says At First Media Chat

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that he has no regrets about removing the fuel subsidy,…

5 hours ago

Biden Commutes 38 Death Sentences, Fearing They May Be Executed Under Trump

US President Joe Biden on Monday commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40…

7 hours ago

Tinubu Holds First Media Chat Tonight

President Bola Tinubu will address Nigerians in his first media chat on Monday evening as…

7 hours ago

Solve It Politically, Not Legally – Bishop Onuoha On Nnamdi Kanu’s Case

Renowned cleric and peace advocate, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Founder and President of Vision Africa International…

8 hours ago

Lassa Fever Outbreak Worsens As Over 1,150 Cases,190 Deaths Recorded In 2024 – NCDC

Nigeria recorded a total of 1,154 Lassa fever cases with 190 deaths this year, the…

11 hours ago