International Relations

Finland’s leaders declare NATO membership application

Finland’s leaders declare that the country will apply for membership of NATO without delay.

Finland leaders, despite threats from Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has announced a NATO membership application is in the works. The historical significance, especially considering Finland is a Nordic country, can’t be understated. NATO membership would end Finland’s military neutrality. The policy has existed for decades.

Sauli Niinisto and Sanna Marin, Finland’s president and prime minister, respectively, announced on Thursday, 12 May 2022, the country should apply to join NATO “without delay”. A well-worded statement made everything clear.

“France ‘fully supports’ Finland’s choice to join NATO — Elysee,” tweeted Reuters.

“Nato membership would strengthen Finland’s security,” it said. “As a member of Nato, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he expects the process of giving both Sweden and Finland membership will happen “quite quickly”.

“Pentagon says it would not be hard to integrate Finland into NATO,” tweeted Reuters.

Russian officials, quickly responded to Finland’s move, threatens to retaliate over NATO membership move.

“Everything will depend on how this expansion process plays out, the extent to which military infrastructure moves closer to our borders,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said to a group of gathered reporters.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs threatens to take retaliatory steps against Finland, including of a “military-technical” nature, if the country joins NATO.

“Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to neutralise the threats to its national security that arise from this.”