NATO

When Russia seized and annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, the move sparked only a modest uptick in support for joining NATO in historically neutral ...

“What happened in Ukraine on Feb. 24 just strengthened my opinion that the time to join NATO is now or never,” says Mr. Mikkelson. “What is happening in Ukraine could also happen here, too. For years, joining NATO has been a minority position among the Finns. In winter 2014, the year of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Finnish support for joining NATO hovered around 18%, according to polling by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum – EVA. Even as recently as late 2021, only 22% of the populace favored giving up the country’s nonaligned status and signing up. Finland’s position in the world seemed to be very stable, so no change was needed.” “Before the Russian invasion I didn’t see any concrete reason to change that dynamic.” Then came Feb. 24 and, as the shaken president said that day, “the mask came off” his Russian counterpart’s face “and all one sees is the cold front of war.” In Finland, that has meant the public’s rapid abandonment of its longtime preference for officially staying outside NATO. Now, according to a recent poll, over 75% of Finns support applying for full membership – something that, by all reports, Finland is now on the threshold of doing. Moreover, says Dr. Forsberg, who is director of the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies at Helsinki University, the shift in the public’s mood is something of a surprise. By all reports, the Finnish president will come out in favor of joining the treaty alliance. “Finland’s position in the world seemed to be very stable, so no change was needed.” For years, joining NATO has been a minority position among the Finns. As recently as late 2021, only 22% of the populace favored giving up the country’s nonaligned status and signing up. “Then February 2022 made it clear that our ‘trust’ in Russia had always been misplaced,” he says. In Finland, that has meant the public’s rapid abandonment of its longtime preference for officially staying outside NATO.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO allies expect Finland and Sweden to apply to join the alliance in the coming days and will grant membership quickly, five diplomats ...

Russia is not in a position to attack (the Nordic nations)." By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. said a second diplomat, citing not only Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine but also the fact that Moscow has had to pour so many troops into its southern neighbour as part of its "special operation" to disarm it. Russia strongly disagrees, viewing NATO enlargement as a direct threat to its own security. Sweden's parliament is holding a parallel, all-party review of security policy which is due to report on Friday. "This is a subject for very, very careful analysis. For now, we can't say any more." That would be full of symbolism for NATO. It was at an allied summit in Madrid in 1997 that Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic were invited to join, in the first of several waves of NATO's eastern expansion. Some diplomats expected Finland and Sweden to apply for membership a few weeks before the Madrid summit to allow for approval at the summit, which will be attended by all allied leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden. "We are confident that we could find ways to address any concerns either country may have about the period of time between a NATO membership application and their potential accession to the Alliance," said Jeff Adler, spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to NATO. Alliance diplomats and officials said membership bids by Sweden and Finland were sure to be approved, either at or before a planned NATO summit in Madrid on June 28-30. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO allies expect Finland and Sweden to apply to join the alliance in the coming days and will grant membership quickly, five diplomats and officials said, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine forces a radical rethink of European security.

President Sauli Niinisto is expected to give a greenlight on Thursday for Finland to join the NATO military alliance, in a major shift of security policy in ...

The government and parliament are also expected to give their approvals for the decision shortly. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com HELSINKI, May 12 (Reuters) - President Sauli Niinisto is expected to give a greenlight on Thursday for Finland to join the NATO military alliance, in a major shift of security policy in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

President Biden on Wednesday highlighted how the war in Ukraine is raising food prices globally as previously neutral countries increasingly seek to join ...

And the most senior NATO officials I speak to say that, at the very top, they have been, frankly, shocked at how quickly things have changed. What would the addition of Finland and Sweden mean? What is it thought would be the difference that could make? Other Ukrainian officials are using the word victory. President Zelenskyy tonight in his nightly address said that: The war wouldn't end until Russia returns everything that is ours. So, in the east, Russians are making gains in the critical city of Izyum. They're pushing out a little bit to the west. In the south and the east, what does it look like there? And that means they're turning the trains overland into Europe. That is much more expensive and takes a lot longer than it usually does, Judy, which means these global food problems will continue. Judy Woodruff: And so the president today announced new efforts to increase U.S. production. And it can't sell that because of export controls and sanctions. Judy Woodruff:

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Wednesday that it "would not be against anyone", if the Nordic country joined NATO, despite Russia warning against ...

Russia actually expressed that you don’t have your own will", Niinisto said. "Joining NATO would not be against anyone. "Finland is already an enhanced partner in NATO. There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that Finland is part of the West", Niinisto said.

Boris Johnson and Finland's president, Sauli Niinistö. 01:33. Finland joining Nato would not be ...

In addition, more than two-thirds of the Finnish parliament, according to surveys, now supports Nato membership. He said it was also possible Russia, preoccupied by the Ukraine front, simply did not have the resources to respond to the unforeseen emergence of a new Nato flank. “The statements from former foreign ministers such as Margot Wallström and the fact that Social Democrats have brought forward the decision to coincide with Finland’s timetable suggest there will be support.” It is written down and Boris Johnson was quite specific in terms of talking about increased deployments by the military, air force and naval operations.” In a visit to Washington last week Ann Linde, the Swedish foreign minister, was given a broad security assurance by Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state. The UK statement goes further than any bilateral guarantees made so far by any other Nato country and is designed to cover the potentially vulnerable transition period between Nato membership application and full membership, the point at which Nato’s full article 5 collective defence protections kicks in.

Nato allies expect Finland and Sweden to be granted membership quickly, a move Putin has warned would have 'serious military consequences'

An economy ministry spokesperson said the German government was “taking the necessary precautions and preparing for various scenarios”. “I came and I kissed the ground, I simply kissed it. Berlin said it was looking into the announcement. Where am I to live, how am I to live?” Moscow has also repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden against joining the alliance, threatening “serious military and political consequences”. “I have not expected anything like this, such aggression, such destruction,” a weeping Pochivalova said.

By Anne Kauranen. HELSINKI (Reuters) - President Sauli Niinisto is expected to give a greenlight on Thursday for Finland to join the NATO military alliance, ...

By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy. The government and parliament are also expected to give their approvals for the decision shortly. In March, Finland's government had initiated a security policy review and delivered an updated report for parliament to discuss in April, while also holding direct parallel discussions with all parliamentary groups to secure backing for the decision to join the treaty. Finnish public support for joining NATO has risen to record numbers over recent months, with the latest poll by public broadcaster YLE showing 76% of Finns in favour and only 12% against, while support for membership used to linger at only around 25% for years prior to the war in Ukraine. HELSINKI (Reuters) - President Sauli Niinisto is expected to give a greenlight on Thursday for Finland to join the NATO military alliance, in a major shift of security policy in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat last month, he said: "If it happens as it looks likely that Finland and Sweden will join (NATO), then it will create a new kind of North for us, one that is responsible, stable and strong," Niinisto said.

By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO allies expect Finland and Sweden to apply to join the alliance in the coming days and will grant membership ...

Russia strongly disagrees, viewing NATO enlargement as a direct threat to its own security. Russia is not in a position to attack (the Nordic nations).” Sweden’s parliament is holding a parallel, all-party review of security policy which is due to report on Friday. “This is a subject for very, very careful analysis. For now, we can’t say any more.” BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO allies expect Finland and Sweden to apply to join the alliance in the coming days and will grant membership quickly, five diplomats and officials said, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forces a radical rethink of European security.

By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI (Reuters) - President Sauli Niinisto is expected to give a greenlight on Thursday for Finland to join the NATO military alli...

The government and parliament are also expected to give their approvals for the decision shortly. In March, Finland’s government had initiated a security policy review and delivered an updated report for parliament to discuss in April, while also holding direct parallel discussions with all parliamentary groups to secure backing for the decision to join the treaty. HELSINKI (Reuters) – President Sauli Niinisto is expected to give a greenlight on Thursday for Finland to join the NATO military alliance, in a major shift of security policy in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

WASHINGTON (TND) — NATO could gain two more members when Sweden and Finland make a final decision on whether to join the defensive alliance.

“It’s something that I think some European countries had been more sensitive to in the past — rightfully so but it's hard to be particularly sympathetic at the moment.” I don't see NATO as having offensive ambitions, but Putin does so he's going to be more worried that there's yet another border that he needs to defend, so that just complicates his feeling of being encircled, his feeling of being trapped,” Gallagher said. Finland and Sweden have been resistant to joining defensive alliances in the past and have instead focused on being self-reliant. “They have lots of close relations with the other members of NATO, so I definitely see it as a net plus for the alliance.” “From a standpoint of NATO as a defensive alliance, they are a net plus. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced European countries to reevaluate their defense systems and postures on military alliances.

Finland's leaders announced Thursday their intention for the country to join NATO "without delay," a new setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Asked on Wednesday if Finland would provoke Russia by joining NATO, Niinistö said Putin would be to blame. Sweden, influenced by the eagerness and speed of its Finnish neighbors, is also widely expected to signal its intention to join the alliance in the coming days. “My response would be that you caused this. The end to Kyiv's long-standing desire to join NATO and the removal of Western troops in the region were central to Putin's pre-war demands, but Finland joining would double Russia's border with the Transatlantic alliance. Finland has traditionally been militarily neutral and enjoyed good relations with Moscow — but the war in Ukraine has led the country to rethink its security and self-determinism. The Nordic nation, which shares an 810-mile border with Russia, is expected to be given rapid accession to join the alliance and neighboring Sweden looks set to follow with its own bid in the coming days.

Finland has had a decades-long policy of military neutrality that would come to an end if it becomes a full member of the military alliance.

Finland has been reviewing its security policy in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which showed the Kremlin is willing attack a neighboring nation. "Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay." "NATO membership would strengthen Finland's security" and that Finland's membership would in turn "strengthen the entire defence alliance."