Finland’s NATO bid ‘most likely’

Finland is likely to apply for NATO membership as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finnish European Affairs Minister Titti Thuppurainen said on Friday.

Also read: Moscow could not rescue the crew

Also read: Five million people have fled Ukraine

Also read: Victim of the Russian ship of Ukrainian missiles, a reliable view, according to experts

“It’s very likely, but the decision has not yet been made,” the minister told the British channel Sky News, but warned that Russia’s diplomacy had warned Helsinki and Stockholm that such action would have repercussions for these countries and for European security.

On Wednesday, during a visit to Sweden, while also considering membership, the head of the Finnish government, Sanna Marin, indicated that candidate selection would be taken “within a few weeks” after a parliamentary debate.

For the Nordic country, which has a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, joining the US-led coalition of 30 members will provide “significantly greater” resistance to attack from its neighbors, the “White Paper” two publicly stated on the issue. Days ago.

“The Finns seem to have formed their minds and there is already a huge majority to join NATO,” Ms Thuppurainen said.

In fact, support for membership in Finland, which has been stagnant at 20-25% for decades, has almost tripled to 60% or 70%.

A clear majority is also coming in Parliament. According to local media reports, of the delegates who have already stated their position, 100 out of 200 are in favor of membership and only 12 are against.

“Being a member of NATO does not strengthen their national security. In fact, Finland and Sweden are at the forefront of NATO, “said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

Former Russian President and current Security Council nominee Dmitry Medvedev has confirmed that if Finland or Sweden join NATO, Russia will strengthen its military routes, especially near the Baltic Sea and Scandinavia.