Ukraine war: Finland confirms it will apply to join NATO to ‘maximize’ the country’s security | World News

Finland has confirmed it will apply to join NATO despite the Russian president warning that it would be a “mistake” to do so.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said joining the military alliance would “maximize” his country’s security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A formal application for accession is expected to be submitted to NATO headquarters in Brussels next week.

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“This is a historic day. A new era has begun,” said Mr. Niinisto.

He added that the move gives him “safety of mind” and that membership is of “great importance” to the country.

“In the future, I have described that the Finnish-Russian relationship will change and I am sure that the Russians think the same way but, as I said, there are everyday questions that you must have. possibility of cooperation,” said the president.

Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, was previously a neutral country.

Yesterday, Mr. Niinisto told Vladimir Putin of his intentions, causing a warning from the Russian president that abandoning neutrality would be a “mistake”.

In response, the Finnish leader told Putin that the invasion of Ukraine had changed the country’s security environment.

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Finland’s bid for NATO membership is expected to be followed by a similar move from Sweden.

Following the announcement, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said applications from both countries were “very important” and “will strengthen the entire Nordic region”.

Expanding the 30-nation military alliance would be a blow to Mr Putin, who has waged the war, in his words, an attempt to thwart its rapid advance.

The countries in the alliance are required to defend each other if any of them is attacked.

The announcement came amid a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin, where the Ukraine war and alliance expansion were discussed.

Read more:
Kremlin says Finland’s NATO application will ‘certainly’ pose a threat to Russia and bring ‘symmetrical response’
Zelenskyy describes Russia as ‘crazy’ for still trying to win

Will the UK support the Finnish application?

Speaking at the meeting, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said there was “strong support” for a “more global NATO”.

“At NATO this weekend, we agreed that we must continue to help Ukraine win and push Russia out. Putin faces a continuing defeat in Ukraine, Russia must be restrained and act aggressively. that will never happen again,” she added.

“NATO’s open-door policy is essential and if Finland and Sweden decide to apply, they will obviously strengthen the alliance and European security as a whole.”

Earlier, Ms. Truss said the UK “strongly supports” Finland and Sweden’s application to join.

Former British Army officer Ed Arnold told Sky News that if both countries joined NATO it would be a “very important moment”, especially in terms of how Europe’s security is set up.

He added that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had signed joint statements to ensure that they were “secure in terms of the application to NATO and the ratification process, which will take several months”.

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What do other NATO members think?

On Saturday, Turkey objected to a potential request by the two Nordic nations, saying they were both “openly supporting and engaging” with the outlawed Kurdish militant group PKK and “the terrorist organization” YPG.

However, NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana said he was “confident” that the alliance would be able to address Turkey’s concerns and welcomed all countries to find “conditions to achieve mutual understanding”. Consensus”.

“Finland and Sweden are already NATO’s closest partners, and expect their allies to see their applications positively,” he said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said her country and others have made it clear that they are ready to fast-track the national ratification process of Finland and Sweden.

“If these two countries decide to join, they can join very quickly,” she said.

Denmark, meanwhile, has dismissed suggestions that Putin’s opposition to Finland’s entry into the union would prevent it from accepting new members.

“Each and every European country has a fundamental right to choose its own security option,” he said.

He added that NATO will also stand with other countries, such as Georgia, which he says is Russia’s “instrument of support”.