NATO countries will offer some guarantees around Finland’s security during the accession process, in case Russia retaliates before it has formally joined
The President of Finland – Sauli Niinisto and the Prime Minister of Finland – Sanna Marin today, i.e., Thursday, May 12, 2022, have called for the country to apply for North Atlantic treaty Organisation (NATO) membership without delay.
The move comes amid a surge in public support for NATO membership following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As per an opinion poll conducted last week, 76% of the people voted for joining NATO and 12% rejected the idea.
Finland shares a 1,300 km (810 mile) border with Russia. Until now, it has stayed out of NATO to avoid antagonising its eastern neighbour. Russia has already warned Finland from joining NATO.
A joint statement from Niinisto and Marin read, “NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”
Sharing the joint statement of Niinisto and Marin, the official twitter handle of Finnish Government tweeted,
Joint statement by the President of the Republic and Prime Minister of Finland on Finland's NATO membership:https://t.co/0xJ9OE70Cw@TPKanslia I @niinisto I @MarinSanna pic.twitter.com/ZviOgZ6v1n
— Finnish Government (@FinGovernment) May 12, 2022
Finland will formally announce its decision on Sunday, i.e., May 15, 2022, after it has been considered by Parliament and other senior political figures. Sweden has also said it will announce its decision of joining NATO on Sunday.
Finland and the USSR were on opposing sides in World War II, with the Finns famously fending off a Soviet invasion in 1939-40. But Finland lost 10% of its territory in the final peace agreement and remained non-aligned throughout the Cold War.
Going ahead, the NATO countries will offer some guarantees around Finland’s security during the accession process, in case Russia retaliates before it has formally joined. A day before, the Prime Minister of United Kingdom (U.K.) – Boris Johnson visited Sweden and Finland and signed a historic declaration to reinforce their security and fortify Northern Europe’s defences, in the face of renewed threats from Russia.
Taking it to twitter, Niinisto tweeted,
”One always measures friendships by how they show up in bad weather”. Finland and the UK are great friends and strong partners. We work to deepen our security cooperation. pic.twitter.com/ZrAFYGnxvY
— Sauli Niinistö (@niinisto) May 11, 2022
The President of European Commission – Ursula von der Leyen said that Russia “is today the most direct threat to the world order with the barbaric war against Ukraine, and its worrying pact with China.”
In other developments, Ukraine pushed back Russian forces in the East. Ukraine’s armed forces’ general staff said it had recaptured Pytomnyk, a village on the main highway north of the second-largest city of Kharkiv, about halfway to the Russian border.
