Finland

Not that Finland necessarily needed such a reminder; the then-Soviet Union invaded Finland about 80 years ago. But that was before Russia had nuclear weapons ...

With Finland and Sweden, the size of NATO countries is only 1.4 times the size of Russia in its entirety. One of the requirements of NATO membership is that nations spend a certain percentage of GDP on their military. When considering the size of the standing military for each country, the ratio is smaller. NATO is not contiguous, so land area is not a particularly useful metric, but aggregating the size of NATO countries relative to Russia is instructive. This doesn’t inherently make war more likely, but Finland’s shift to the West is the sort of change that Russia’s been hoping to prevent. The expansion of NATO over time has been toward Russia’s western edge, with the collapse of the Soviet Union 30 years ago prompting a number of former Soviet states and Warsaw Pact countries to seek and gain membership in the alliance.

HELSINKI — Nordic governments have set about deepening regional defense cooperation against the backdrop of the very real expectation that non-aligned ...

We are in the process of deepening our operational cooperation that will enable us to improve our interoperability, deterrence and territorial defense,” the statement said. These are some of the benefits of NATO membership if we decide to join,” said Hultqvist. “The Prime Minister and President of Finland have sent a clear message. We hope that the steps at a national level that are still needed to make this decision possible will be taken rapidly over coming days,” the joint statement continued. “Now that the moment of decision-making is near, we state our shared views. Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin issued a joint announcement on Thursday backing NATO membership.

Good evening. This is your Russia-Ukraine War Briefing, a weeknight guide to the latest news and analysis about the conflict.

The Kremlin said that Finland’s possible accession was a threat and that Russia would “take necessary measures” to protect itself. If Ukrainian forces have the range to hit Russian positions, Ukrainian infantry might advance under the artillery umbrella of these longer-range systems. Finland’s leaders announced their support for the nation to join the alliance, while Sweden is expected to do the same within days. Ukraine is also waiting for drones, used to spot targets and correct artillery fire, and tracked armored vehicles, to tow howitzers into position. But in the south, it’s a different sort of war. For the moment, Russia’s artillery capability far surpasses that of Ukraine. Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned that if Finland joined NATO, Moscow would be forced to “ make retaliatory steps of military-technical and other character,” but provided no details. What did you like? The goal would be to move to within striking range of two bridges and a dam spanning the Dnipro River, in an operation that could cut the supply lines of the Russian forces. It’s also an example of how President Vladimir Putin’s war aims have backfired. The Kremlin said Finnish membership in NATO was “definitely” a threat, and that it was prepared to “balance the situation” to ensure Russia’s security. This is your Russia-Ukraine War Briefing, a weeknight guide to the latest news and analysis about the conflict.

Turkey doesn't favor Sweden and Finland joining NATO, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Istanbul on Friday, potentially dashing the two countries' ...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country is “not favorable” toward Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

The report does not make recommendations whether Sweden should join NATO or not. At the same time, it lists numerous tactics Russia is likely to take in retaliation. He claimed the action had allowed Greece “to take an attitude against Turkey by taking NATO behind it."

Finland is ready to cope in the event that Russia cuts off its supply of natural gas, the government's emergency preparedness committee said after a meeting ...

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WASHINGTON — In embracing Finland's, and soon Sweden's, move to join NATO, President Biden and his Western allies are doubling down on a bet that Russia has ...

The Kremlin said that Finland’s possible accession was a threat and that Russia would “take necessary measures” to protect itself. Ukraine, in contrast, was at the core of the old Soviet Union that Mr. Putin is trying to rebuild, at least in part. It is a debate similar to the one that took place during the Clinton administration when there were warnings about the dangers of NATO expansion. The revelations showed how close to the line Washington was getting in provoking Mr. Putin. That is the long-term concern. The question now is whether expanding NATO risks cementing a new Cold War — and perhaps something worse. Finland’s leaders announced their support for the nation to join the alliance, while Sweden is expected to do the same within days. To Mr. Biden and his aides, the argument for letting Finland and Sweden in, and keeping Ukraine out, is fairly straightforward. The White House welcomed the announcement on Thursday by Finland’s leaders that their country should “apply for NATO membership without delay,” while Swedish leaders were expected to do the same within days. By that, he means staying clear of direct conflict with Mr. Putin’s forces and avoiding doing anything that risks escalation that could quickly turn nuclear. Or is it only solidifying the divide with an isolated, angry, nuclear-armed adversary that is already paranoid about Western “encirclement”? Trying to avoid provoking Mr. Putin, he said, “hasn’t changed Russia’s actions at all.”

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday that his government does not support Finland and Sweden joining NATO, claiming the Scandinavian ...

It is not possible for us to be in favor." Why it matters: A formal objection by Turkey would derail Finland and Sweden's expected NATO applications, which must be approved by all 30 NATO allies. Why it matters: Finland's membership in NATO would more than double the length of the alliance's borders with Russia. Sweden is expected to make an announcement on applying to NATO on Sunday. The transformation of Europe's security landscape is a nightmare for Vladimir Putin — but one triggered by his own decision to invade Ukraine. What to watch: Ahead of its likely decision to support a NATO application in the coming days, the Swedish government issued a security analysis finding that NATO membership would reduce the chances of a military conflict in northern Europe What they're saying: "We are following the developments regarding Sweden and Finland, but we are not of a favorable opinion," Erdoğan told reporters in Istanbul, according to AP. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday that his government does not support Finland and Sweden joining NATO, claiming the Scandinavian countries are home to Kurdish "terrorist organizations."