It’s the fiasco of the century! While Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine to prevent it from falling into the bosom of the West and into that of NATO, a year later Finland renounced three decades of non-alignment and passed definitely with arms and baggage in the Atlantic Alliance.
What motivated the Finns is quite understandable: its large Russian neighbor is once once more nourishing an imperial ambition and intends to federate part of the world on the basis of the values of the autocrats rather than those of the democrats.
Finland joins NATO without animosity towards Russia
The Finns, who voted last May in a poll at 76% for NATO membership, have not forgotten the patriotic winter war of 1939-1940, nor cyber harassment and misinformation. they have suffered from Russia in recent years. They clearly opt for the camp of the democracies.
This strategic failure by Vladimir Putin is not to be taken with arrogance. Because nothing is more dangerous than a wounded animal. The Russian president retains a capacity for destruction. He is not totally isolated in the world. Russia is a large country that covers part of Europe, Asia and touches the American continent.
“A historic day”, “The only thing for which we can thank Putin”: Finland officially becomes a member of NATO
We have entered into a logic of confrontation, of abandonment of disarmament treaties and sanctions. We are living through a second cold war, from which it will be necessary, through diplomacy, to emerge at some point. The priority is to put an end to the war in Ukraine, which only brings loss of human life, disaster and desolation. This is a card that China might play as long as it does not make common cause with Russia, as European High Representative Josep Borrell reminded us on Tuesday.
In the meantime, the allies are keeping the doors of the Atlantic Alliance open. Sweden is expected as soon as possible. Neither Hungary nor Turkey should block this membership. Their motivations – obscure in the case of Hungary, understandable in the case of Turkey – are not up to the challenge, nor to the solidarity that prevails within the Atlantic Alliance.