Capitals (agencies)
Yesterday, Finland took a new step towards joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Moscow saw this as a threat to Russia. Russia warned yesterday that it would take military and technological measures in response to the possibility of Finland joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
“Moscow will take such measures in order to contain any threats to its national security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Moscow has repeatedly stated that the Finnish authorities and people are concerned with choosing ways to ensure the security of their country, but that they should be aware of the responsibility and the consequences that will arise from Finland’s possible accession to NATO,” the statement added.
He stated that taking such a step would cause great harm to the Russian-Finnish bilateral relations and would negatively affect stability and security in northern Europe.
The statement clarified that the policy of “military neutrality” that Finland has adhered to for decades constituted a basis for stability in northern Europe and a guarantee for Finland’s security.
The statement noted that Moscow’s assurances that it had no “hostile intentions” towards Finland, as well as the long history of good-neighbourly relations and mutual cooperation, did not convince Helsinki of the need to maintain the “military neutrality” approach.
The statement pointed out that “NATO’s goal behind the inclusion of Finland in the alliance lies in continuing expansion towards the Russian borders and opening a new front for danger to Russia,” saying that history will judge Helsinki’s decision to turn Finland into an arena for military confrontation with Russia. The statement pointed out that the possibility of Finland joining NATO constitutes a direct violation of Helsinki’s international obligations, noting that the Paris Peace Treaty signed in 1947 obligated Finland and Russia not to join alliances directed against the other party, as well as the 1992 treaty that stipulated that neither party would resort to Threatening to use or resort to force against the territorial integrity of the other party.
It is noteworthy that Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin confirmed in a joint statement earlier yesterday that they support joining NATO and that an official decision will be taken at the end of the week.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltbring, in a statement issued yesterday, also welcomed Finland’s announcement of its desire to join the alliance, saying, “This is a sovereign decision taken by Finland and fully respected by NATO,” pledging that the procedures for joining the alliance will be easy and fast.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the Finnish president during a phone call, he said in a tweet.
Yesterday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised full support from Germany to Finland’s bid to join NATO.
“I welcome Finland’s decision to support the country’s immediate accession to NATO, in a phone call with President Sauli Niinisto, I assured Finland of the full support of the German government,” Schulz wrote on Twitter.
The declaration of Helsinki, which is expected to be followed by a similar decision from Sweden in the coming days, shows the impact of the attack on Ukraine launched by Vladimir Putin on 24 February on Finnish public opinion.
According to a poll published Monday, 76% of 5.5 million Finns support joining, three times the pre-war number.
Five diplomats and officials told Archyde.com that NATO member states expect Sweden and Finland to grant the two countries membership quickly, paving the way for an increase in the size of forces in the north to defend them during the one-year membership approval period. In this context, the Swedish newspaper “Expressen” said in a report, quoting unnamed informed sources, that the Swedish government intends to submit a request to join NATO, as soon as it holds an additional meeting next Monday.
And the Bloomberg news agency said that Sweden intends to publish an official report on obtaining NATO membership today, Friday, the day after the ruling Social Democratic Party finished internal discussions in this regard.