Finland’s years of neutrality are coming to an end. The Turkish parliament is voting today on Finland’s NATO membership, and it looks set to pass. This is what Scandinavian correspondent Jeroen Visser thinks.
It can also be labeled as a historical moment, he thinks. The Finns had “neutral” status since WWII and, according to the correspondent, it’s a real street life. “Everyone you ask on the street knows what it is, that it’s historical, and why it’s happening,” Visser says. “The vast majority also agree with that accession, and if you ask why, they all point to February 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.”
According to Visser, the Finns define the action as “unpredictable” and are also wary of it. “Putin has invaded a neighboring country, so the Finns think it could happen to them too.”
Fear
But the Finns are not afraid, Visser knows that. Especially since “fear” doesn’t really seem to be part of the Finnish national character. For example, Finland has excellent military forces, which they are always very proud of. Instead the Finns are angry and outraged that this step is necessary. “They’ve always been very proud of their neutrality,” Viser continues. There’s also a reason they never took the last step towards NATO. (…). In fact they are disappointed that there is no other option for Finland but to join NATO.’
At least, for now it’s an attempt. Turkey hasn’t given it a shot yet. Although it is mainly a formality, Visser thinks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already given him the victory. Therefore, according to the correspondent, it is ‘almost certain’ that his party will follow in parliament, and that Finland will be voted tonight.
Last obstacle
Visser speaks of one last obstacle, because Finland’s accession can be made official after the Turkish vote. ‘Then another newspaper has to go to Washington, but that’s all,’ he concludes. “And then NATO suddenly has a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia.”
If the Turks vote in favor tonight, it will be up to NATO head Jens Stoltenberg to officially invite Finland to NATO. It could be done tomorrow, so to speak. This is followed by a stack of registration documents sent to the US, because the US is the administration of all the treaty member states. “This is the only thing that still needs to be done,” concludes Visser.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
