Finland faces no direct military threats from Russia, according to its NATO ambassador
Finland currently does not perceive any direct military threats from Russia, according to Finnish Ambassador to NATO Klaus Korhonen.
Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin declared on Thursday that the country “must apply to join NATO as soon as possible.” Pekka Haavisto, Finland’s foreign minister, later stated that if the parliament votes by the middle of next week, Finland could seek for NATO membership.
In an interview published Thursday, the envoy was cited as claiming that Russia has made no “direct military threats against Finland” or engaged in any “irregular conduct.”
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Finland, on the other hand, is on high alert and expects Russia to use “cyber harassment” and “disinformation efforts,” according to Korhonen.
Helsinki’s decision to join NATO was prompted by a “quite significant change in our security situation” following Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, according to the envoy.
Amid a changing security scenario in Europe, the Ukrainian crisis has sparked substantial debate in Finland and Sweden about abandoning decades of neutrality and joining NATO. In March, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that if Finland and Sweden decide to join, the alliance will expedite their membership applications.
Finland, on the other hand, is on high alert and expects Russia to use “cyber harassment” and “disinformation efforts,” according to Korhonen.
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Helsinki’s decision to join NATO was prompted by a “quite significant change in our security situation” following Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, according to the envoy.
Amid a changing security scenario in Europe, the Ukrainian crisis has sparked substantial debate in Finland and Sweden about abandoning decades of neutrality and joining NATO. In March, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that if Finland and Sweden decide to join, the alliance will expedite their membership applications.
Finland and Sweden both reaffirmed their plans to join the alliance on Thursday. If the Nordic states chose to apply, the US and Germany have already offered their support.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Finland’s declaration represents a “radical shift in the country’s foreign policy,” forcing Moscow to “take military-technical or other retaliatory measures.”
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