‘Security assessment underway, Finland could join NATO by spring', Finnish envoy to India

Categories: FOREIGN OR INDIAN NEWS

                    Russia’s war on Ukraine is causing a strategic re-think in Finland, which shares a 1300-km border with Russia.Though Finland has remained militarily non-aligned, the country has been a member of the European Union and a partner of NATO. However, Finn leaders are now contemplating formally joining the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), a political and military alliance of countries in Europe and North America.

                    According to the diplomat, the Government of Finland is looking at the security situation in Europe and discussing to prepare a White Paper assessing their security situation, which will be followed by a parliamentary discussion.When queried on Russia's warning (threat of political and military consequences) against any move by Finland and Sweden to join NATO, she said that every independent and sovereign country has the right to make their decisions on choosing who their allies are and not.

                  When this was pointed out, the ambassador said, "Finland is militarily non-aligned, but we are a partner in NATO, and we are traditionally exercising with NATO partners and Nordic countries. This exercise is also part of regular exercises which we had planned a very long time ago. The coincidence is now the Russian aggression, which has taken all of us by surprise.”"We always take our time on preparing carefully… The security assessment is underway… Most probably it would be completed during spring and let's see what happens after that and what is the situation,” she replied on the question regarding when Finland would decide on joining NATO formally as a member.