Finland’s decision to join NATO deals a significant blow to Russia amid Ukraine conflict

Finnish people, with National and NATO flags, celebrate the Finnish Nato membership at the Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland, on April 4, 2023. | Photo Credit: AP

Finland’s decision to join NATO deals a significant blow to Russia amid Ukraine conflict

Finland’s leaders signalled they wanted to join NATO after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through its neighbours

The Nordic country’s membership doubles Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance. Finland had adopted neutrality after its defeat by the Soviets in World War II, but its leaders signalled they wanted to join NATO after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through its neighbours.

“The era of nonalignment in our history has come to an end -– a new era begins,” President Sauli Niinistö said before his country’s blue-and-white flag was raised outside NATO headquarters.

A short distance away, outside the security fence, a few dozen people wrapped in flags of their own chanted, “Ukraine needs NATO.”

• Finland’s leaders signaled their desire to join NATO after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused fear among its neighboring countries.
• Finland had previously adopted neutrality after its defeat by the Soviets in World War II.
• The country’s membership in NATO doubled Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance.
• The move is a strategic and political setback for Putin, who has complained about NATO’s expansion towards Russia.
• The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Putin’s aggression may have caused countries to do more to protect their defence and deter possible Russian aggression.
• Finland previously adopted neutrality after WWII, but has signalled its desire to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Membership in NATO would double Russia’s border with the world’s largest security alliance.
• U.S. President Joe Biden praised Finland’s potential membership on NATO’s 74th anniversary.
• Putin has complained about NATO’s expansion towards Russia, making this move a strategic and political setback for him.
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that Putin’s aggression may have caused neighbouring countries to take steps to protect themselves and deter Russian aggression.
• NATO’s “iron-clad security guarantee” protects the country and all member countries vow to defend any ally that comes under attack.
• Mr. Stoltenberg did not rule out the possibility of more military exercises in the country and said that NATO would not let Russia’s demands dictate their decisions.
• NATO is constantly assessing their posture and presence in the Nordic area, with more exercises and more presence.
• In 1939 and 1940, Finland’s ill-equipped forces fought in the Winter War against the Soviet Union and lost some territory but forced out the invaders.
• Finland has a 280,000-strong fighting force built on near-universal male conscription, a large well-trained reserve, and modern artillery, warplanes, and tanks.
• The country joined the European Union in 1995.
• Finland’s Parliament experienced a denial-of-service attack, making their website hard to use with many pages not loading and some functions unavailable.