- Finland seems closer to joining NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine.
- A poll showed a majority there want membership and the Prime Minister said a decision should be made soon.
- Russia previously warned of “serious military and political consequences” if Finland tries to join.
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Finland appears to be moving closer to the NATO military alliance, despite Russia’s threat of military consequences if it joins.
Both the country’s politicians and NATO itself have hinted at the possibility of Finland’s accession soon, and a recent poll found that a majority of the country favors membership amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Saturday the decision to join would be made “this spring,” the Financial Times reported.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on March 31 that while the decision to join the bloc was up to Finland, he expected NATO to allow the country to join quickly.
“If they apply, I expect that they will be very welcome and that we will find a way to quickly approve the accession protocol and pursue Finnish membership,” he said.
Finland’s National Coalition Party, the government’s main opposition party, also supports NATO membership.
According to FT, Petteri Orpo, the leader of the party, said: “In order to improve our security and guarantee our independence, we should join NATO. We still have a powerful and aggressive neighbor.”
Finland shares a long border with Russia.
Russia has threatened Finland if it decides to join.
In March, a Russian foreign ministry official warned of “serious military and political consequences” if Finland or Sweden, Finland’s neighbor, attempted to join.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has used the possibility of further NATO expansion eastward as a reason for invading Ukraine. He described Russia’s invasion as an act of self-defense against the growth of the Alliance.
In Finland, too, there seems to be increased public support for joining the alliance.
A poll conducted by Finnish business and policy forum Eva Think Tank in March after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine found that 60% of people supported Finland’s entry into NATO – a huge jump from previous years.
NATO entry could also pose its own security risks for Finland, especially if Russia views it as an act of aggression.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said last month that the bid for NATO membership came with “great risk” of escalation in Europe.
Finland was once part of the Russian Empire. After gaining independence, it was invaded by the Soviet Union in 1939, but successfully fought back.