Important announcements made on Sunday
Sauli Ninisto has confirmed that his country will formally apply for NATO membership.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said she expected the country's parliament to confirm the decision to apply to join NATO within the next few days.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that if Finland and Sweden decided to join NATO, it will be historic.
The German foreign minister said- "Sweden, Finland: if you are ready, we are also ready."
The US Secretary of State said, "The US fully supports this decision of Finland and Sweden."
Why neutral Finland has now taken this decision
Finland shares a 1340 km long border with Russia, so its position is very important from a geographical point of view.
Finland declared independence in 1917. Before that, most of Finland was under Russia. Finland fought against Russia during World War II. Sweden has not fought a war in the last 200 years. Its foreign policy has focused on democracy support and nuclear disarmament.
In January this year, when Russian forces were gathering near the border with Ukraine, the Finnish prime minister said that the chances of her country joining NATO were slim.
However, after Russia attacked Ukraine, there has been a big change in Finland's earlier and present views and this decision is the result of that.
Finland defines applying for NATO as a 'need'. Finland's European Affairs Minister Titti Tuprenen said Russia's attack on Ukraine changed everything.
But a day before this important announcement, the President of Russia spoke to the President of Finland. During this conversation, Putin also assured him that there was no threat to the security of Finland.
Then why did Finland take this step?
In response to this question, Harsh Pant, Professor of International Relations at King's College London, says, "The way Russia has adopted Ukraine, very few countries are left with it, very few of its neighbors are left which are close to Russia. Believe in anything."
He further says, "Because Russia also said about Ukraine that it wants a strategic solution but it attacked. In this context, all the neighboring countries of Russia and the European Union will have to change their foreign policy toward Russia. There is fear, there is doubt and there is also disbelief about believing the statement the way Russia's attitude has been."
Harsh Pant's support is also supported by the threats of Russia in which he warned Finland of dire consequences if he joins NATO.
Foreign affairs expert Manoj Joshi believes that Finland and Russia have an old relationship. The way Ukraine has been attacked, of course, Finland is afraid of it. The second thing is also from the historical point of view that in past Russia had annexed a lot of Finland. At the same time, there was talk of the Baltic Republic as well, maybe Finland is apprehensive about these things and that is why it has taken this step.
Russia has warned that if Sweden and Finland join NATO, Russia will deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles on the outskirts of Europe. Russia had threatened that this move of Finland would damage bilateral relations. Along with this, the situation of security and stability in Northern Europe will also be affected.
What will change with this decision of Finland
In some cases nothing.
Sweden and Finland have been official NATO partners since 1994. However, this is different from full membership. Both countries have also participated in several NATO missions since the end of the Cold War.
After this application, after formally joining NATO, a major change will be regarding the application of "Article 5" of NATO. Under which if there is an attack on one member country, it is seen as an attack on all the members. Also, for the first time, Finland and Sweden will get security guarantees from nuclear countries.
Foreign affairs expert Manoj Joshi says, "Finland has been participating in NATO meetings in the past, but the purpose of joining formally by applying is only to get the assurance under Article 5 that if Russia or any country is on it. If he attacks, there should be someone to fight for him."
"By becoming a member of NATO, it will get its guarantee."
Russia's Strategic Defeat and Growing Challenge
Amidst all the threats from Russia, Finland has made a move toward formal membership in NATO. So should this be seen as a dwindling influence of Russia?
Harsh Pant says, "In a way, I think this is a very big strategic defeat of Russia. Because the way the war with Ukraine and the dispute, a big reason for this, Russia gave it, that if Ukraine joins NATO, it will come close to the borders of Russia. So now that countries like Finland and Sweden, which had not yet formally joined NATO, nor had any intention to join. The reasons for which Russia started attacking Ukraine in the U.S. have now come to it another way. In a way, this Russia has increased its problem further."
Harsh Pant says that there is a big threat to Russia. Finland and Sweden were still buffer countries for Russia, but now that Finland has decided to apply, the NATO alliance will stand to defend Finland.
Manoj Joshi believes, "It will increase the challenge for Russia but it is its fault. Finland shares a long border with Russia and now that Finland is moving toward joining NATO, the challenge for Russia So it is. With NATO coming so close, there will be tension for Russia but nothing will be so drastic. Russia is afraid of missiles and if missiles are fired from Finland, then it will be a challenge for Russia.
Europe's role
Since the announcement of Finland's application, many countries including Germany, and America have welcomed him. What are the signs that Europe remains hyperactive about Finland's participation in NATO?
In response to this question, Harsh Pant says that Europe feels that they need to show Russia that they stand together and Europe's reaction to Finland is also a form of this.
He says, "Europe thinks that if they do not convey to Russia that they are together, then Russia can understand that the European countries have weaknesses and they are not united. The Western countries want to send the message that on Ukraine." After the attack, the western countries will become weak and adopt a soft attitude, it this is not so. It will have the opposite effect and that is why Europe is also showing so much speed about Finland. They want to send the message that Russia should not make the mistake of considering European countries as weak. "
The German Foreign Minister also said something similar in his statement. He said- "Sweden, Finland: If you are ready, we are also ready."
Manoj Joshi says that even if it looks from a distance it may seem that this step is the result of the expansion of Europe, but it is completely Finland's decision.
Will, there be any effect on Russia-Ukraine
Russia's attack on Ukraine, which started on 24 February, is still going on. Millions of people have fled Ukraine. Thousands of soldiers have been killed on both sides. City towns have been devastated but the war continues. Russia claims possession of many important cities such as Mariupol in Ukraine, while Ukraine says that it has recaptured many areas.
But for now, the war does not seem to be over.
But now that Finland is going to apply to join NATO, will Russia pull back because the purpose for which this war was started seems to have failed.
On this, Harsh Pant says that it does not seem to have a direct effect on the Russo-Ukraine war, but, surely, this message will once again send a message to Russia that what its neighbors are thinking about. Huh. Russia will also understand that its neighbors have been neutral if they rethink their foreign policy.
He says, "Countries that have been neutral for decades, then it will affect Russia. When it comes to war, Russia has pushed itself so far that now they have no other option but to continue the war.". Because it will have a direct impact on Putin and his image."
At the moment, Putin has little choice but to move forward and he will not only move forward in Ukraine but can also go beyond its borders. The crisis is deepening in the current situation and Europe stands at the most dangerous juncture in its recent history.
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