A decision is imminent on whether the historically neutral country will seek membership of NATO - what will it mean if Finland does join? 🇫🇮
The Kremlin has warned of"military and political repercussions" if the Finns, or the Swedes, decide to join NATO.
Many of the Russian troops stationed near the Finnish border were relocated to Ukraine and have been hit by"significant losses", Heli Hautala, a Finnish diplomat and research fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, has told AP. Charly Salonius-Pasternak, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, said the shocking scenes playing out in Ukraine have made Finns draw the conclusion that"this could happen to us".Besides another member, analysts say Finland has a modern and competent armed forces that would significantly boost NATO's capabilities in Northern Europe. Finnish forces often train with NATO troops, so can already work with them highly effectively.
While support for joining in Finland appears strong, Sweden is less clear, with only 50% of the population backing it and a number of politicians wedded to the Swedes' neutral stance that has been in place for more than 200 years.
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