Finland is expected to submit its membership application to join NATO later this week which could threaten Russian President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.
United States and European officials also anticipate that Sweden will follow suit with Finland and start processing its membership in the alliance. If Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and the Social Democrats who govern both countries ignore Moscow's warnings and come out in favor of accession, NATO could have two new members located on Russia's doorstep.
Finland's NATO Membership
If the Western military alliance makes such an expansion, it would force Russia to be surrounded by NATO countries in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic. This also represents a serious setback for Russian President Putin who has expressed his disagreement with the alliance expanding on its doorstep.
The Russian president previously argued that NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe, and the possibility that Ukraine joins the alliance, were part of the reasons that it chose to invade its neighboring country. Putin marked Victory Day on Monday, a holiday when Moscow commemorates Nazi Germany's surrender in the second world war, as per the Associated Press.
If Finland and Sweden join NATO, it would be a historic development as the latter has avoided military alliances for more than two centuries, and the former adopted neutrality after it was defeated by the Soviet Union in World War II.
Read Also: Russian Ambassador to Poland Blasted With Red Paint During Moscow's Victory Day Celebrations
Finnish authorities have been considering becoming a member of the NATO alliance in the wake of Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine. Prime Minister Sanna Marin had previously stated that the invasion "changed the security policy situation in such a way that there is no going back to the way things were."
According to CNBC, becoming a NATO member would also mark backlash from Russia, whose president has been extremely vocal about his opposition to the expansion of the alliance. In a statement, Finland's minister for foreign affairs, Pekka Haavisto, said that when all of the political parties are ready they will move as a government to enter discussions and negotiations.
Consequences for Russia
The situation comes as recent opinion polls have shown that at least 60% of Finland's citizens approve of becoming a member of NATO. The numbers show a massive jump from 30% in the past few years.
If the decision pushes through, the country, which houses nearly six million people, will have redrawn the European security map. This would be in a way that was previously inconceivable and may have tremendous consequences for Moscow.
Currently, Russia shares roughly 755 miles of land border with five NATO member countries, according to the alliance. Finland's inclusion would result in the 800-mile border that Russia shares would become formally militarily aligned with the United States.
On top of being bad for Moscow, Finland's potential NATO membership would increase NATO's influence and power. Despite having a relatively low population size, the country has a powerful military force that has been unofficially aligned with the West for several decades. They have used equipment purchased from the U.S. that is compatible with NATO allies, CNN reported.
Related Article:
