Finland's leadership announced that Finland plans to apply for NATO membership "without delay," marking an historic departure from their former neutrality and delivering a strategic blow to Russian thug and war criminal Vladimir Putin's desire to roll back the alliance. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the joint announcement earlier today in Helsinki. Russia's attack and brutal war on Ukraine forced the Finns, who share an 830- mile border with Russia, to reevaluate their security:
“NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance,” Niinisto and Marin said in a joint statement. “Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”
Niinisto said the day before that Russia could only blame itself for this turn of events, saying "You (Russia) caused this. Look at the mirror." Russia responded to Finland's announcement by saying that Finland's joining NATO wouldn't help security in the region.
NATO's acceptance of Finland into the alliance is a virtual certainty, but requires the unanimous agreement of all NATO countries (including Putin-friendly Viktor Orban's Hungary). Finland has long developed interoperability with NATO militaries, and have a sophisticated and well-armed military. Close Finnish ally Sweden is also expected to follow suit in the coming days, after parliamentary votes are taken.
