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Finland will apply for NATO membership, despite the antagonism it may provoke with Russia.
“This is a historic day,” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Sanna Marin, stressing that his country was entering a new era.
Niinisto claimed that Finland has not been directly threatened by Russia, but since this has already happened in the past, he said, we must be “careful and vigilant.”
“We already have all the capacities, we are very close to NATO and partners very close to it. We have never had any data to indicate that there could be any problem in between.
We have seen some statements from the public that prove that there are still questions about this step, but I think it is very important to have these discussions with the countries, with the ministers and with the other leaders we have. “said Sauli Niinisto, President of Finland.
Prime Minister Marin echoed his comments, adding that “the Russia we are seeing now is really very different from what we saw before.” “We hope that the Parliament will confirm the decision to apply for NATO membership in the coming days,” said the chief executive, adding that “we still have a parliamentary process ahead of us, but we hope that Parliament will discuss this historic decision with determination and responsibility.” .
According to Yle News media, the Helsinki Parliament will convene tomorrow to debate the application for NATO membership, while the start of the process could take place on Tuesday.
Today’s announcement paves the way for the possibility of expanding the 30-member military alliance as Russian occupation of Ukraine continues.
Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, and has been a militarily neutral state for 75 years. But since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, public and political opinion has changed dramatically in favor of membership.
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