Finland’s leaders yesterday said that they are in favor of rapidly applying for NATO membership, paving the way for an expansion of the alliance that could deal a blow to Russia as its military struggles with its war in Ukraine.
The move by Finland was announced by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
It means that Finland is all but certain to join NATO, although a few steps remain before the application process can begin.
Photo: AP
Sweden is expected to decide on joining NATO in the next few days.
“NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defense alliance,” Niinisto and Marin said in a joint statement. “Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”
The Kremlin reacted to the development a few hours later, saying that Finland’s move to join NATO would not help stability and security in Europe.
Photo: AP
Finland shares a 1,340km land border with Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia’s response to the move would depend on what specific steps NATO would take to bring its infrastructure close to Russian borders.
He said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has already ordered to work out steps to bolster the country’s defenses in the west in response to NATO’s expansion closer to Russian territory.
Previously, the Kremlin had warned of “military and political repercussions” if Sweden and Finland join NATO.
Should they apply, there will be an interim period lasting from when an application has been handed in until all 30 NATO members’ parliaments have ratified it.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wrote on Twitter: “History being made by our northern neighbors.”
Kallas pledged to support “a rapid accession process” for Finland into NATO, of which Estonia is a member.
Finland’s announcement came a day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Finland and Sweden to sign a military cooperation agreement.
The UK on Wednesday pledged to aid Sweden and Finland if the two Nordic nations were to be attacked.
During a news conference with Johnson in Helsinki, Niinisto said that Moscow could only blame itself should his nation become a NATO member.
“You [Russia] caused this. Look at the mirror,” Niinisto said.
CHAOS: Iranians took to the streets playing celebratory music after reports of Khamenei’s death on Saturday, while mourners also gathered in Tehran yesterday Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the US, throwing the future of the Islamic republic into doubt and raising the risk of regional instability. Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency announced the 86-year-old’s death early yesterday. US President Donald Trump said it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country. The announcements came after a joint US and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites. Trump said the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue through the week or as long
TRUST: The KMT said it respected the US’ timing and considerations, and hoped it would continue to honor its commitments to helping Taiwan bolster its defenses and deterrence US President Donald Trump is delaying a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan to ensure his visit to Beijing is successful, a New York Times report said. The weapons sales package has stalled in the US Department of State, the report said, citing US officials it did not identify. The White House has told agencies not to push forward ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), it said. The two last month held a phone call to discuss trade and geopolitical flashpoints ahead of the summit. Xi raised the Taiwan issue and urged the US to handle arms sales to
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Yilan County at 12:37pm today, with clear shaking felt across much of northern Taiwan. There were no immediate reports of damage. The epicenter of the quake was 16.9km east-southeast of Yilan County Hall offshore at a depth of 66.8km, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. The maximum intensity registered at a 4 in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳) on Taiwan’s seven-tier scale. Other parts of Yilan, as well as certain areas of Hualien County, Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, Taichung and Miaoli County, recorded intensities of 3. Residents of Yilan County and Taipei received
Taiwan has secured another breakthrough in fruit exports, with jujubes, dragon fruit and lychees approved for shipment to the EU, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency on Thursday received formal notification of the approval from the EU, the ministry said, adding that the decision was expected to expand Taiwanese fruit producers’ access to high-end European markets. Taiwan exported 126 tonnes of lychees last year, valued at US$1.48 million, with Japan accounting for 102 tonnes. Other export destinations included New Zealand, Hong Kong, the US and Australia, ministry data showed. Jujube exports totaled 103 tonnes, valued at
RSS