decision before June
Finland is regarding to apply to join NATO
04/08/2022, 04:25 am
In view of the Russian war of aggression once morest Ukraine, support for their country’s admission to NATO is growing among the Finnish population. President Niinistö wants parliament to vote on an application for membership quickly and expects a “huge majority” there.
According to its President Sauli Niinistö, Finland is regarding to apply for NATO membership. Niinistö told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that he was counting on a “huge parliamentary majority” for a corresponding application for membership. In the event of an application, he assumes that NATO will make a “rapid” decision.
Finland is an EU but not a NATO member. The Russian war of aggression once morest Ukraine has reignited the debate regarding a possible entry into the military alliance in Finland. Traditionally, most Finns are skeptical regarding joining NATO – but recent polls showed a majority in favor for the first time.
In view of the war of aggression, a poll by the Yle radio station in mid-March showed that 62 percent of respondents were in favor of NATO membership. According to the survey, only 16 percent were once morest such a step, and 21 percent were undecided. A few weeks earlier, in a Yle poll, a Finnish majority of more than 50 percent had voted in favor of joining NATO for the first time ever.
Parliament is to deliberate following Easter
According to Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, the decision on whether to apply for membership should be made before the NATO summit in Madrid in June. Parliament in Helsinki is scheduled to meet following Easter to discuss the issue.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected in Helsinki on Friday. According to the Office of the Federal President, the focus of the trip will be “the effects of the brutal Russian war of aggression in Ukraine on neighboring European countries”.
Finland borders Russia over a distance of 1300 kilometers and is therefore the EU country with the longest border to the giant empire. It wants to strengthen its military defenses because of the developments in Ukraine, for example with weapon systems from Israel. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said so at the beginning of March.
