Welcome to NATO
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Today, Finland was admitted as a NATO member. Welcome to Finland and a clear kick in the butt to Russia. Putin openly believed before the invasion of Ukraine that the brutal assault would lead to a split in NATO. It hasn’t happened. On the contrary, Russia’s aggression has led to a more united Europe. Instead of a divided NATO, the defense alliance is growing.
Finland between East and West
In the days of the Cold War, Finland was in many ways where Ukraine is now. In the dividing line between east and west. Finland’s neutrality after World War II was based on the fact that Finland wanted a good relationship both to the west and to Russia.
This is exactly what Ukraine wanted when it revolted against then-President Viktor Yanukovych. His attempts to bring Ukraine even closer to Russia were contrary to the wishes of the people and contrary to the election promises that brought him to the presidency. Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 did something to the Finns. Their position as a party that wanted a good relationship both east and west was now threatened. If Russia could attack Ukraine, they can also attack Finland. Finland had to choose a side. the choice was not difficult. Freedom and democracy, rather than obedience to Putin.
Not welcome to NATO from Russia
According to Newsweek, the possibility of “liberating” Finland was discussed on Russian TV. Of course just bullshit. Russia will have no opportunity to “liberate” any NATO country. But such statements testify to a dream of building Russia into the empire they themselves want. The empire built on contempt for democracy and where the dream of Russian influence is the only thing that matters.
What the people of Finland want and what the country wants obviously means less. The overriding thing is to satisfy the Russian dream of being the great power in Europe. Russia’s dream of splitting NATO failed. Instead of a divided NATO, Russia managed to get an outer border against the NATO countries that is longer than ever before.
Finland is also a country that still remembers that the country was invaded by the Soviet Union in 1939. It happened to Finland back then, to Hungary and Czechoslovakia a few years into the Cold War, it happened to Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. Finland wants to be an independent country. The consequence of Putin’s assault on Ukraine is a Finland in NATO.
I welcome Finland as a member of NATO.
Sources:
Russian TV Pundits Push to ‘Liberate’ Finland as Country Joins NATO (newsweek.com)