Finland’s President and Prime Minister endorse joining NATO, which would move the country closer to membership of a US led organisation. The Russian government warns Finland they may retaliate as this would pose a threat to Russia.
The government of Finland submitted a report to their parliament with the recommendation that Finland remain outside NATO. Nevertheless, President Niinisto reaffirms Finland’s commitment to the alliance and Prime Minister Sanna Marin reaffirms Finland’s support for NATO.
The President of Finland, Niinisto said in a joint statement with Marin, that “NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security.” This was because as a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. The Finnish president hoped that “the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the Finnish statement on Thursday is a radical change in Finnish foreign policy and threatens to take countermeasures.
According to the ministry, Finland was aware of the responsibility and consequences of this move.
Finland joining NATO could seriously damage bilateral Russian-Finnish relations and lead to instability in the Northern European region.
Russia will take retaliatory steps to defend their national security against the threats that are coming from this. They are going to do so by strengthening their military and their militarily-technical capabilities.
On Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Finland joining NATO would not contribute to more security.
“NATO expansion does not stabilize the world and make it more secure,” according to spokesperson for President Putin, Dmitry Peskov. He clarified that Russia would react if NATO grew near its borders.
The President’s Press Secretary said that it depends on what the military expansion will entail to see how close they will get to our borders.
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