Russia has threatened to increase its military assets, including nuclear ones, in the Baltics if Finland or Sweden join the US-led military alliance.
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Posted on 4/20/2022 6:41 PM Updated on 4/20/2022 7:09 PM
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“It’s time to find solutions.” Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said Wednesday April 20 that Finland was ready to consider NATO membership. “Unity is the best guarantee of security,” she added as the Finnish parliament began debating the possibility. The 200 members of the Chamber, who have long been divided on the issue, appear to be overwhelmingly in favor of membership, according to media results which revealed only 12 objections.
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Without making a formal recommendation, a “white paper” handed to parliamentarians by the government last week underscores that only NATO membership allows them to benefit from the “umbrella” of their Article 5 of collective defence.
Even though it broke with its strict neutrality at the end of the Cold War and joined the European Union in 1995, Finland is now only a NATO partner. According to the White Paper, joining the 30-strong coalition would offer a significantly greater deterrent to a Russian attack.
“It is clear that Russia’s actions have brought us a great deal closer to a military approach,” because Moscow “has become reckless, unpredictable and aggressive,” said Antti Lindtmann, parliamentarian for the ruling Social Democratic Party, during the debate on his movement refused to join NATO in the past.
Moscow has threatened to strengthen its military assets, including nuclear weapons, in the Baltics if Finland or Sweden join the US-led military alliance. Finland shares a 1,300 km border with Russia.