Helsinki – Finland’s entry into NATO is closer than ever after the main political leaders of that country took the historic decision on Thursday to support accession, breaking with more than eight decades of non-alignment.

The Nordic nation, which shares an 810-mile border with Russia, is expected to gain quick access to join the alliance and neighboring Sweden appears set to follow up with its offer in the coming days.

“Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the steps at the national level still necessary to make this decision will be taken quickly in the coming days,” the two leaders said in a joint statement.

According to the country’s president, Sauli Niinistö, and the prime minister, Sanna Marin, membership in NATO – of which it is an associated country but not a member – would strengthen Finland’s security and, in turn, the Nordic country would make it stronger. to the military alliance.

Although it was an open secret, both leaders had kept silent about their position until now so as not to influence the public debate on NATO, reactivated after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“We have needed time for Parliament and the whole of society to establish their positions on the matter. Also to establish close international contacts with NATO and its member countries, as well as with Sweden. We wanted to give the discussion the space it required,” they pointed out.

FINLAND BLAMES THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

Finland’s entry into NATO, something unthinkable just a few months ago, currently enjoys broad popular support, since, according to the latest polls, between 73 and 76% of those surveyed support joining the Alliance, while only 12% oppose it.

This historic turn is due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the growing threats from the Kremlin to prevent NATO’s expansion to the east, including the deployment of nuclear weapons in the Baltic.

President Niinistö pointed out that Finland and Sweden – a country that is also discussing the possible entry into NATO – have been neutral for a long time by their own decision, but now that neutrality has become a demand of the Kremlin, which represents “a radical change “.

Therefore, Niinistö said that Russia should “look in the mirror”, as it is its actions and threats that have caused both Finland and Sweden to seriously consider joining NATO.

At the same time, he insisted that his country’s entry into the Atlantic Alliance does not pose a threat to anyone, as Moscow claims, but rather it is simply a way of increasing its security.

Finland has traditionally been military neutral and has enjoyed good relations with Moscow, but the war in Ukraine has prompted the country to rethink its security and self-determinism.

THIS IS HOW RUSSIA RESPONDED

However, there is a risk that this announcement will provoke a reaction from Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, who has expressed his adamant opposition to NATO enlargement.

In response to the news, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “another NATO expansion does not make our continent more stable and secure.” Russia’s response would depend on what specific steps NATO takes near Russia’s borders, he added.

The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously warned of “serious military and political consequences” if either country joins the 30-nation alliance.

If Finland joins the military alliance, the land border Russia shares with NATO territories would double. Russia has land borders with 14 countries and five of them are NATO members: Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, and Norway.

WHAT COMES NOW

The decisive step taken this Thursday by Niinistö and Marin gives a firm boost to the accession process in Finland since security and defense policy is a competence shared by the president and the Executive.

Now all that remains is for the rest of the coalition government and the Eduskunta (Parliament) to give their official support to formalize the membership application, something that could happen in the coming days, given the broad consensus that exists between the political parties.

All the formations that have already formally established their position are in favor of joining, although the Social Democratic Party (SDP) led by Marin has yet to make a pronouncement, which will do so this Saturday, and the Left Alliance, whose leadership has delayed the decision until mid of June.

Both parties have maintained a critical stance towards NATO for decades, but at least the SDP is expected to position itself clearly in favor of membership this Saturday.

The Left Alliance, one of the five partners in the government coalition, remains reluctant to support membership and has given its deputies the freedom to vote.

For this formation, the issue is especially sensitive, to the point that three years ago it managed to include a provision in the government program according to which the Executive cannot ask to join NATO during this legislature.

In other circumstances, an application for accession would have caused the immediate departure of the Government of the Left Alliance, but the resounding popular support for NATO has made its leaders reconsider.

Last Saturday, the leadership of the party led by the Minister of Education, Li Andersson, and her parliamentary group decided that there is no reason to leave the Executive even if Finland asks to join the Alliance.

President Niinistö and the Government’s Foreign and Security Council could officially approve the entry request this weekend, once the SDP has established its position, although it will still have to be ratified by the Eduskunta, probably next week.

Then it will be up to NATO and its 30 member countries to accept the Finnish candidacy, something that seems very likely since the Alliance has repeatedly expressed its willingness to receive “with open arms” both Finland and Sweden.