Should Finland and Sweden hold a referendum on NATO membership? While Finland and Sweden claim to have received favourable signals from Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday expressed hostility to the idea. That included Finland, a country that shares an 810-mile border with Russia. OneHealth approach: Time for implementation, Media Partnership: Upskilling Hospitality For more Sustainability and Resilience in Food Supply Chains, EU policy support is pivotal to industrys ability to offer more sustainable packaging and support healthier lifestyles, Animal health, a prerequisite for animal welfare, Media Partnership Soil health & agriculture: Going beneath the surface, Citizens of tomorrow: educations role in strengthening EU democracy, The challenges faced by the European metal, engineering and tech industry. Increased military spending is also something 75% of Finns want without delay, a fresh poll by theKeskisuomalainennewspaper shows. In another response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Alko, Finland's state-run alcohol distributor, took vodka and other Russian products off the shelves Monday. In neighbouring Sweden, the state-run alcohol monopoly Systembolaget also announced it would stop the sale of Russian products. Asurveyby the Finnish broadcasting company Yle found that 53 percent of Finns support their country joining NATO. I spent a month in Russia about seven years ago, coming on a train from China, Joonas recalled. The permanent joint mechanism was set up to address Turkey's concerns about Sweden and Finland, the latter of which became the 31st member of NATO in April. It is possible this parliament might run out of time to discuss the initiative before elections due in 2023. By Anna Wieslander and Christopher Skaluba Filter Results Hide A historic shift is taking place in Finland. Will biofuels have a role in EU transport decarbonisation? Latest news, analysis and comment on elections in Europe and beyond. 1st European B+ Summit: decarbonising HDVs with higher biodiesel blends, CPK: Revolutionising transport connectivity in CEE. The weakest link How construction workers are exploited in subcontracting chains. Of all the parties in parliament, the Left Alliance is most strongly in favour of a referendum on Nato membership, according to a poll by Finnish news agency STT. Everything changed when Russia invaded Ukraine in late February 2022. According to the survey, commissioned by public broadcaster Yle, 53 percent of Finns backed their country joining the military alliance, 28 percent opposed it, and 19 percent were unsure. Support for NATO membership has now risen to 61%, a poll commissioned by newspaperHelsingin Sanomatpublished on Thursday (31 March) shows. The Finns managed to hold off the Red Armys advance and kept their freedom, but lost a huge chunk of territory. ", "After the phone call with Putin, I think so even more.". ", Sweden's parliament is reviewing security policy with a report expected in mid-May. Niinisto, who is expected to easily win a second six-year term in the Jan. 28 election, did not indicate whether he favoured joining NATO but said a decision to apply for full membership would require a referendum. 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For decades, Finland and Sweden remained neutral when it came to wartime alliances. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Johan Ahlander Latest news, analysis and comment on French politics and beyond. Rarely has an intellectual argument had. Illicit trade - What are the impacts and solutions? Its a great day for the alliance, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday. Reporting by Tuomas Forsell and Jussi Rosendahl; Editing by Catherine Evans. If that were to happen, a new initiative may be required to force a debate. When World War II gave way to the Cold War, Finland found itself in a unique position after its leaders signed a 1948 treaty with Moscow, in which it promised to join neither NATO, nor the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. It became very clear very quickly that this was not going to be the quick three-day Kyiv decapitation strike that many people thought it was going to be, says Rachel Rizzo, senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Europe Center. "I don't think it is an issue that is suitable for a referendum," she told reporters. 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Finland and Sweden look set to declare their readiness to join NATO later this month in time for the alliance summit in Spain at the end of June. It is very understandable that many Finns have changed or are changing their minds after Russia started waging war on Ukraine, Marin said. Russian aggression in Ukraine has pushed the Finnish public closer than ever to NATO. Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com. Finlands acceptance is a win for both sides, says the Atlantic Councils Rizzo. Many Swedish politicians have said their support is conditional on Finland joining. Antti Hmlinen / LehtikuvaAFP via Getty Images. Rooted in EU cultural heritage, IFRA celebrates 50 years of fragrance, Heat pumps: Gearing up for the boom years, Lithium: Driving Europes future mobility, Media Partnership: Advancing Europes Net-Zero Industry, Education for a sustainable future - Empowering individuals to tackle climate change. What is the process if Finland and Sweden seek to join NATO? Investigators are probing an electronic track management system that they suspect malfunctioned and caused Indias deadliest train crash in more than two decades, railways officials said on Sunday. Joonass words are representative of a shift in public opinion. Finland has always been a borderland between the East and the West, first part of the Swedish kingdom, then an autonomous grand-duchy of the Russian Empire and finally independent since 1917, Koivunen said. It's a great day. And a citizens petition on holding a referendum on Finlands NATO bid gathered the 50,000 signatures needed for parliament to debate it in less than a week. The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. [Shutterstock/Gints Ivuskans], Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram. Magazines, Digital Moscow has repeatedly warned both countries of consequences if they join NATO. The implications for Europe, which buys more than a third of its gas from Russia, were not immediately clear. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. The Finnish president's office said that Finland would officially become a member of NATO on Tuesday. Russia doesnt pose a military threat to Finland at the moment, and not next week. Look at the mirror, Niinisto said. Last modified on Mon 16 May 2022 11.00 EDT. And the countrys conscription-based reserves total 900,000, according to The Wilson Center. Berlin said it was looking into the announcement. The citizens' initiative gathered the required signatures within a few days. When alternatives and risks have been analysed, then its time for conclusions, Niinisto told reporters, referring to the possibility of Finland joining the defence alliance. In 2019 just over half of Finns were opposed to NATO membership. [1] Finland has had formal relations with NATO since 1994, when it joined the Partnership for Peace program, and has been a member of the European Union (EU) [2] - which largely overlaps with NATO in membership - since 1995. . Finlandisation defined like this was, in the end, a successful method to survive and develop into a Nordic welfare state with a giant, totalitarian neighbour, she added. However, a senior US military official has warned that neither side can win in the present circumstances and that Russian and Ukrainian forces appear to be settling into a gruelling and deadly stalemate in Ukraines east. Mar 2022, 16:49. Two separate citizens' initiativesone calling for a referendum on NATO, the other urging the President and other authorities to bring a proposal for accession before Parliament have each. Finns fought a bloody civil war in 1918 and thereafter the society was very divided and polarized between the whites and the reds. If sustained, it could let Ukrainian forces threaten supply lines for Russias main attack force, and put rear logistics targets in Russia itself within range of artillery. Rizzo says Erdogan is likely to continue stalling as he faces elections in May. At present some 22 citizens initiatives are in parliament waiting for consideration. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. With a majority in parliament backing membership, the ruling Social Democrats are seen as the biggest hurdle to Sweden applying to join the 30-nation alliance. The agency surveyed the leaders of nine political parties via email regarding their stance on Finnish Nato accession. Finland and Sweden look set to declare their readiness to join NATO later this month in time for the alliance summit in Spain at the end of June. "Voters are not naive about Russia," Ulf Kristersson told daily Aftonbladet earlier this week in a debate with Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar. Last May, Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO on the same day, hoping to be accepted together. The Republic of Finland became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 4 April 2023. This period, which is called Finlandisation, we were in the Soviet security sphere and had to take into account Russias military and foreign policy interests, but at the same time, we developed our own Western type of parliamentary democracy and market economy,Markku Kangaspuro, a professor of Russian and Eastern European studies at the University of Helsinki, told Al Jazeera. The Soviet Union suffered huge losses, with one sniper alone, Simo Hyh, nicknamed the White Death, racking up 505 confirmed kills. But this came at a price. A green light from the party would secure a firm parliamentary majority in favour of joining. For example, the conservative party was always in opposition and not accepted into government by the other Finnish parties, Kangaspuro added. Latest news, analysis and comment on defense in Europe and beyond. Both countries have received assurances from NATO that the door remains open to them, though the Social Democrats in power in both countries have no plans to join. A former member of the Russian empirewhich dissolved in 1917Finland was under the thumb of the Soviet Union during the Cold War under a deal known as Finlandization. In return for neutrality, the country was allowed to develop its own domestic policy and economic systems, as long as they did not go against the Soviet Union. However, neither country proposes to hold a referendum on NATO membership, despite both countries doing so prior to EU membership in 1994. Koivunen said, Finland had lost the war and, in order to keep her sovereignty, she had to compromise her political independence. The Winter War united the country against a common enemy.. The petition, which is calling for a referendum on membership, was launched last Monday and reached the targeted 50,000 by the end of the week. It has forged closer ties with NATO in recent years, however, sharing information and taking part in military exercises, reflecting concerns in Finland about the Ukraine crisis and increased East-West tensions in the Baltic Sea. The initiative was published on Monday and gathered the signatures by Friday evening. The advance appears to be the fastest that Ukraine has mounted since it drove Russian troops away from the capital Kyiv and out of northern Ukraine at the beginning of April. NATO membership needs to be approved and ratified by all 30 members of the alliance. Less than three months after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the move is a stunning reversal of Finland's policy on military non-alignment dating back more than 75 years. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. This briefing argues that the benefits of using a referendum . This marks a drastic shift in public attitudes in the previous poll in 2017, only 19 percent of Finns supported NATO membership. "Finland is not currently facing an immediate . Finnish president says NATO referendum no longer necessary By Pekka Vanttinen | EURACTIV Mar 31, 2022 Support for NATO membership has now risen to 61%, a poll commissioned by newspaper. Parliament's ratification vote on Sweden and Finland's NATO accession on Thursday divided the Spanish coalition, with socialists of PSOE voting in favour and its minority partner in the. UN referendum for Ukraine peace plan 5:19 AM UTC. Paul Wennerholm/TT News Agency/via REUTERS/File Photo. I have not expected anything like this, such aggression, such destruction, a weeping Pochivalova said. Asked on Wednesday if Finland would provoke Russia by joining Nato, President Sauli Niinisto said Putin would be to blame. This briefing argues that the benefits of using a referendum to settle this decision seem to outweigh the drawbacks, allowing a period of reflection to assess the wider implications for the new and still unfolding European security landscape. Following the announcement, Russia claimed it would bolster its defenses near the border. Despite an announcement from Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that Ukrainian counter-offensives around the city of Kharkiv were pushing invading Russian forces back, Ukrainian successes appeared to be confined for now to the far north-eastern and south-western flanks of the 300-mile frontline. The thesis of a referendum blocks the discussion on membership. Heikki Saukkomaa / LehtikuvaAFP via Getty Images, What to Know About New U.S.-Philippines Military Sites, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It, 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Sweden's Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, were meeting Sunday to decide whether the party should abandon its historic stance against joining, last reaffirmed at the party's annual congress in November. As the alliance grows it will become even more important to ensure consensus among member nations, says Rizzo. The authors suggest that membership of Nato would significantly enhance Finland's ability to defend itself from external threats. Similarly, Sweden, which has also stayed out of NATO, has plans tosignificantly raise its defence budget. NATO has long been a topic that politicians have not wanted to seriously discuss but Russias invasion of Ukraine radically changed this and opened the floor for NATO talks, Pia Koivunen, an historian at the University of Turku, told Al Jazeera. According to the 'realist' school of how great powers behave Putin now HAS TO invade Finland. Ukraines armed forces general staff said it had recaptured Pytomnyk, a village on the main highway north of the second-largest city of Kharkiv, about halfway to the Russian border. While neither it nor neighbouring Sweden are NATO members, both countries are partners of the Western military alliance. And a citizens' petition on holding a referendum on Finland's NATO bid gathered the 50,000 signatures needed for parliament to debate it in less than a week. What became clear was that to ensure territorial integrity they needed to join NATO, because NATO deterrence works.. The mood in Helsinki is tense: Finland has Europes longest border with Russia at over 1,300 kilometers, but is not a part of the military alliance. A petition of more than 50,000 signatures has called on Finnish MPs. Moscow has also repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden against joining the alliance, threatening serious military and political consequences. Finland staunchly supports Ukrainian independence and sovereignty. 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"The only significant thing that has changed is that Russia has attacked a neighbouring country that is not a member of NATO," Salonius-Pasternak said. The membership must be applied for when the weather is still rather beautiful.. Mr Stoltenberg said NATO's 30 leaders would now invite Finland, which shares a 1,300 km border with Russia, and Sweden to join NATO and that they would become official "invitees". But the Cold War would not last and with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Finland moved closer to the West, joining the European Union in 1995. On Thursday, the countrys President Sauli Niinisto said Finland was to review its security policy to decide whether to join NATO. This is really an historic day. Magazines, Florence Pugh Might Just Save the Movie Star, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Finland Has Officially Joined NATO. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. But with the attack on Ukraine, Finnish public opinion has shifted in favour of NATO dramatically. The prospect for a "joint leap" by Sweden and Finland in to NATO will be . Finland's PM Sanna Marin | Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images. It had grown closer to the military alliance over the last. Finland is also a country with extremely high level of resilience, of preparedness throughout the whole society, Stoltenberg said following the announcement on Monday. Dadgostar, whose party opposes NATO membership, told Aftonbladet that Swedes should get a say in the decision. The Nordic country is a member of the European Union but has stayed outside the NATO military alliance in line with its tradition of avoiding confrontation with Russia, with which it shares an 833 mile (1,340 km) border and a difficult history. While neither it nor neighbouring Sweden are NATO members, both countries are partners of the Western military alliance. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICOs editors and guest writers in Europe. However, neither country proposes to hold a referendum on NATO membership, despite both countries doing so prior to EU membership in 1994. The latest, on March 30th,. Its authors had mentioned the tenser security situation in the Baltic Sea as a reason for Finland to permanently commit to security guarantees with its partners. "This is a historic day. My response would be that you caused this. Following the Russian Revolution in 1917, Finland was peacefully granted independence by Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, although a bloody civil war soon broke out between the ruling conservative party and the communists. Finland to debate NATO petition in parliament. Ukraine says it is likely that tens of thousands of people have been killed in Mariupol. Finlands potential NATO membership will also be on the table, Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters Monday. We must review them carefully. The assessment was delivered as the Russian military claimed its forces had advanced as far as the border between the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, potentially edging to securing control of the Donbas region despite losing ground around Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. In-depth reporting, data and actionable intelligence for policy professionals all in one place. Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a proposal to apply for membership of the NATO military alliance in a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland is also Sweden's closest defence cooperation partner. Discussion: How to allocate and communicate recycled content in packaging? The presidents change of heart was explained by Matti Pesu, a senior fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. When Yle last commissioned a similar poll in 2017, support for NATO membership was at 34 percent. Both countries applied to become NATO members 10 months ago in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, abandoning decades of . EURACTIV is part of the Trust Project >>>, Finnish president says NATO referendum no longer necessary. But the concept of full NATO membership was a non-starter in the countries until the war in Ukraine saw public and political support for joining the alliance soar. Finland's parliament will convene to debate the membership proposal on Monday. The initiative was published on Monday and gathered the signatures by Friday evening. So I talked with a lot of these guys who were maybe 18-19 years old, and they had just spent two or three years out of their home and youd think theyd be kind of maybe brainwashed or indoctrinated, he said. Finns are evaluating what is the line that Russia has crossed, and what is the line that Russia will not cross And if Russia does cross some line, do we face it alone or together with others, Marin said. (Reuters: Fanni Uusitalo) The Kremlin said Russia would be forced to take "countermeasures" as a result of . "This .. has to go back to the voters, there has to be very strong democratic support in this question," she said. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Turkey's objections, directed in particular at Stockholm, focus on what it considers to be the countries' leniency towards the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is on the EU's list of terrorist organisations. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. According to Kangaspuro, Finlands approach remains slow and cautious. Despite last-minute objections by Turkey, NATO members are on "good track" in their discussions on welcoming Sweden and Finland into the Western military alliance, Croatia's foreign minister, Gordan Grlic Radman, said as he arrived for talks with NATO counterparts in Berlin. But even as the Russian government is viewed with suspicion, for ordinary people this does not appear to be the case. However, Finland's interest in joining NATO also lies in its shared complicated history with Russia. NATO aims to accept Sweden by its July summit in Lithuania, says Lagadec, but whether that happens is largely dependent on Erdogan, who has blocked Swedens bid until the country cracks down on Kurdish groups operating in the country and cracks down on anti-Islam Koran burning. "We hope the parliament will confirm the decision to apply for NATO membership during the coming days. Could this be the end of Finnish neutrality? This figure goes up to 66 percent if neighboring Sweden were also to join NATO. Separately, Andersson's own party, the Social Democrats, are looking at whether to drop their objections to NATO membership. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Our relationship has been very practical, pragmatic, and so far, Finland has been a neighbour with whom Russia does not have major problems, compared with almost all of its other neighbours.. Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning, Take international news everywhere with you! I came and I kissed the ground, I simply kissed it. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Finland gets the benefits of being a member of NATO, and NATO also gets the benefits of the Finnish military., Finland has long been one of the closest non-ally partners for NATO, says Rizzo. At NATO's meeting in Berlin, Slovakia's Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said he was "absolutely certain that we will find a solution", while Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said "the signs don't look bad" for Sweden and Finland. In Sweden, support has also risen dramatically, to around 50 percent -- with about 20 percent against. This will remain her lasting legacy that she pulled off something like this. The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore. Where am I to live, how am I to live?. Putins dilemma: what is his next move in Ukraine? Nato allies expect Finland and Sweden to be granted membership quickly, five diplomats and officials told Reuters, paving the way for increased troop presence in the Nordic region during the one-year ratification period. "This is really an historic day. I guess its the time of picking sides.. Russia, which currently sees Finland as a friend, will consider the country its enemy if it joins the military alliance, Niinist also told YLE. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Picture taken on May 4, 2022 shows a Leopard battle tank of the Armoured Brigade during the Arrow 22 exercise at the Niinisalo garrison in Kankaanp, western Finland. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. [But] the consensus is that we are not in a hurry. Sweden, which has been militarily non-aligned for more than two centuries, is expected to follow suit with a similar announcement, possibly on Monday. A citizens' initiative demanding a referendum on a Finnish application to join Nato has passed the required 50,000 signatures for consideration by parliament. "Finland staunchly supports Ukrainian independence and sovereignty. The measure will affect around 30 Russian products -- most of them vodka -- from its total stock of 11,000 items. Sufficient evidence now shows that most Finns want to join the NATO alliance, President Sauli Niinist told Swedish-speaking broadcaster YLE on Wednesday after he had called for a broad survey for membership just one week ago. Before [the Ukraine crisis], I didnt want to have to choose between East and West, Joonas, a 30-year-old brewer from Helsinki, told Al Jazeera. Turkey ratified Finland's NATO accession in March, but says Sweden harbors members of militant groups it considers terrorists. Finland's president, Sauli Niinisto, and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said Thursday that the country should apply to join NATO "without delay.". The debate also comes on the heels of a poll released Monday by public broadcaster Yle, showing that most Finnish people now favour joining NATO, according to a poll released Monday, a historic change in attitude and a major shift compared to even just a few months ago. Membership would be historic for the Nordic . The Nordic country is a member . There really is an ability for Erdogan to use this as a political tool to help bolster his position at home and to be seen as a strong leader, says Rizzo. The move was met with resistance from Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but, after Finnish President Sauli Niinisto met with Erdogan last month, Finland was able to move forward with its bid without Sweden. But analysts say it is unlikely that the party will oppose the move. Throughout the history, there has been wars and suffering, but also business and cultural contacts between the countries.. What we see is that President Putin went to war against Ukraine with a declared aim to get less NATO, Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on Monday. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. And when they heard that Im from Finland, they all expressed their respect. Membership will make Sweden safer, but also NATO and Turkey stronger," Stoltenberg told reporters in Istanbul. Timo Virtanen, 35, co-founder of a Finnish IT software company, is one of six Finns who put forward a referendum to bring the question of whether Finland should join NATO to a public vote. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre-long (830-mile-long) border with Russia. Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia, has been leading the charge, while Sweden appears anxious at being the only non-NATO country around the Baltic Sea. Helsinki (AFP) Finnish MPs will debate how to handle a petition calling for a vote on NATO membership on Tuesday as a poll showed a historic change in attitude in the traditionally non-aligned country after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces have also continued to bombard the Azovstal steelworks in the southern port of Mariupol, last bastion of Ukrainian defenders in a city. Its a historical U-turn that even two years ago would have been unthinkable, says Erwan Lagadec, an associate research professor of international relations at George Washington University. If there is hell on earth, it is there, wrote Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the Mariupol mayor, Vadym Boichenko, who has left the city. The USSR had a gun to Finlands head, says Lagadec. By logging in, you confirm acceptance of ourPOLITICO Privacy Policy. Only 16% currently oppose membership. A citizens' initiative to hold a referendum on whether Finland should join NATO gathered the required 50,000 signatures in less than a week, which forces parliament to debate it. The move also has strategic implications for the war against Russia as NATO countries continue their support of Ukraine. On Thursday European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned Russia was the most direct threat to the international order because of its barbaric war in Ukraine. . 2023 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. Then in November 1939, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin attempted an invasion in what became known as the Winter War. Finland already devotes 2% of its GDP to military expenditures, which all NATO countries commit to do, but many havent in practice. The parliament of Finland has voted for joining NATO. Prime Minister Sanna Marin also announced that Finland would provide Ukraine with lethal aid. Plastic packaging circularity an opportunity not to be wasted, Innovation for Carbon Neutrality in the Cement Industry, The road to Georgias accession to the EU, EU-Latin America relations: shared values and missed opportunities, How the European Union is advancing its agenda in Central Asia - Kazakhstan's role in interregional cooperation, IRIS: Guaranteed Access to Ultra-Secure Communication for EU & Partner Countries. And that seems to be the position of Sweden as well, Kangaspuro added. Ott Ummelas. Later during World War II, Finland allied with Nazi Germany to try and take it back, but lost and had to pay reparations to the Soviet Union. While the party's leading politicians have seemed ready to reverse the decision, critical voices within have denounced the change in policy as rushed. Von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel are in Japan for talks that have touched on Russias invasion of Ukraine but also growing concerns about Chinas role in Asia and beyond. (modern), Finland President Sauli Niinist has blamed Putin for his countrys desire to join Nato, Finland joining Nato would not be 'against anyone', its president says video, defend Sweden and Finland against potential Russian threats, gave evidence on Tuesday alongside Avril Haines, fake referendum on independence or annexation. The poll surveyed 1,382 respondents between the ages of 18 and 80 between February 23 and 25, said Yle. [The alliance needs] to focus on ensuring that any bilateral issues between states dont roadblock NATO-wide decision making.. All Rights Reserved. HELSINKI (Reuters) - Any move by Finland to join NATO would need public approval via a referendum, President Sauli Niinisto told a panel debate on Monday ahead of elections in January. The two Nordic countries broke their strict neutralities after the end of the Cold War by joining the EU and becoming partners to NATO in the 1990s, solidifying their affiliation with the West. In a first . The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. While officially neutral, the Soviet Union exerted pressure on Finland. The Left Party's principal argument in favor of holding a referendum is based on the pretext that most Swedes . In his interview with newspaperUusi Suomi, he suggested that NATOSecretary-General Jens Stoltenberg may have assured Niinist in last weeks talks that NATO is convinced that public support for membership already exists. STOCKHOLM, April 28 (Reuters) - Sweden's government does not plan to hold a referendum if its parliament decides to proceed with an application for NATO membership, Prime Minister Magdalena. For Finland, getting Sweden into NATO is the "main priority". Copyright and legal information | Contact | Donate | Sign Up, Promoting a more open, transparent and accountable North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Nato allies expect Finland and Sweden to be granted membership quickly, a move Putin has warned would have serious military consequences. On Saturday, the Finnish head of state phoned his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin to inform him of his country's desire to join NATO, in a conversation described as "direct and straightforward". France 24 is not responsible for the content of external websites. Log in to access content and manage your profile. On the frontlines, Ukraine on Wednesday said it had pushed back Russian forces in the east and shut gas flows on a route through Russian-held territory, raising the spectre of an energy crisis in Europe. Advertisement. The Russians arent winning, and the Ukrainians arent winning, and were at a bit of a stalemate here, said Lt Gen Scott Berrier, director of the Pentagons Defense Intelligence Agency, who gave evidence on Tuesday alongside Avril Haines, the US national intelligence director, to the Senate armed forces committee. On Wednesday, Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin said discussions on possible NATO membership should take place at several levels with a view to establishing a national consensus. Finland's parliament is discussing a petition to hold a referendum on joining NATO following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "A completely historic and exceptional result," Charly Salonius-Pasternak, senior research fellow at Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told AFP. According to recent polls, the number of Finns who want to join the alliance has risen to over three-quarters, almost triple the level seen before the war in Ukraine. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. HELSINKI, April 25 (Reuters) - Finland and Sweden will together express their wish to join NATO in May, tabloid newspapers Iltalehti in . CEDR Research Call 2022(2) Data is open for bids! Here's Everything You Need to Know. read more. Sweden holds a general election in September. At the same time, President Urho Kekkonen kept contact with the West and attempted to find room for manoeuvring, wherever it was possible. "Hopefully, we can send our applications next week together with Sweden," Marin had said on Saturday. She did not comment on her personal position on NATO. In light of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, its neutrality policy may soon change as the Nordic country that shares a 1,340km (830-mile) border with Russia contemplates joining the NATO military alliance. On February 28th, four days after the invasion, the polls showed majority support for the first time. The news was confirmed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, "tomorrow we . Although the results of the latest poll could be an effect of the initial shock at the Russian invasion, the researcher said he believed support would likely remain at a higher level. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. If you do not have an account you can register here. A citizens initiative to hold a referendum on whether Finland should join NATO gathered the required 50,000 signatures in less than a week, which forces parliament to debate it. By Niko Vorobyov 11 Mar 2022 Helsinki, Finland - For decades, Finland refused to take sides for or against Russia, a position that kept the peace but also confined its sovereignty. Aluminium: the overlooked component of the Critical Raw Materials Act? Meanwhile, arecent poll by public broadcaster Yle found 53 percent of Finns now support joining NATO, a dramatic rise from merely 19 percent five years ago. Parliament must debate citizens' initiatives gathering 50,000 signatures of support. Its the shock effect after Russias attack on Ukraine people were scared and this was the first reaction for them, he said. A citizens' initiative demanding a referendum on a Finnish application to join Nato has passed the required 50,000 signatures for consideration by parliament. I would warn against making decisions where a significant part of citizens would get deep wounds, Niinisto said in a panel discussion in Helsinki. Finlands centre-right government has said it will monitor the security situation in the region and retain the option of joining NATO. Under Russian Tsar Alexander II, Finland was allowed a special status within the Russian Empire, with its own currency and largely running its own affairs, although Finnish itself was not recognised as an official language until 1902. "The situation in Ukraine is shocking and we have taken it seriously," said spokesman Anu Koskinen, announcing the suspension of both in-store and online sales. For other countries in limbo, Finlands acceptance will not change much. In another village near Kharkiv recaptured by Ukrainian forces in early April, resident Tatyana Pochivalova returned to find her home blasted to ruins. Torvalds, a politician for Swedish Peoples Party of Finland, had 1 percent support in a recent opinion poll while Niinisto had 76 percent. Support for NATO membership has now risen to 61%, a poll commissioned by newspaperHelsingin Sanomatpublished on Thursday (31 March) shows. The petition, which is calling for a referendum on membership, was launched last Monday and reached the targeted 50,000 by the end of the week. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICOs editors and guest writers on the continent. The decision comes as Sanna MarinFinlands left-leaning Prime Minister who pushed for Finlands ascension into the worlds biggest military alliance following decades of public oppositionlost re-election over the weekend. "Today, the President of the Republic and the Government's Foreign Policy Committee have jointly agreed that Finland will apply for NATO membership, after consulting parliament," Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Sunday. My home, there is nothing. Latest news, analysis and comment on migration in Europe and beyond. They all were very familiar with our history with Russia, and they all knew about it. Finnish MPs will debate how to handle a petition calling for a vote on NATO membership on Tuesday as a poll showed a historic change in attitude in the traditionally non-aligned country after . In a move premier Marin called "historic," Finland announced it is offering Ukraine weapons. "Sweden has fulfilled its obligations," for membership, Stoltenberg said. Finnish and Nato flags flutter at the courtyard of the Foreign Ministry in Helsinki, Finland, ahead of NATO accession on April 4, 2023. The border between NATO and Russia has basically been doubled in size and length, says Lagadec, adding that once Sweden joins, the Baltic Sea will become a NATO lake that will help the alliance arm the Baltic region. Finland became the 31st member of NATO today, in a swift journey that began in response to Russias Ukraine invasion. Hes getting the exact opposite.. Download the France 24 app, War in Ukraine threatens geopolitical balance in the Arctic, No longer neutral? But she added that since a citizen's petition requesting a parliament debate on a referendum had reached the necessary 50,000 signatories to trigger a debate in parliament, it "makes sense to hear the parties' views on handling the issue.". The country is a close ally of NATO, but there has been little appetite to join the club until now. read more. HELSINKI (Reuters) - Any move by Finland to join NATO would need public approval via a referendum, President Sauli Niinisto told a panel debate on Monday ahead of elections in January.. Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Saudi to cut oil output in July, OPEC extends deal into 2024, Exclusive: World's spy chiefs meet in secret conclave in Singapore, Ukraine military urges 'silence' ahead of expected counteroffensive, Ukraine minister in 'disbelief' at closed Kyiv bomb shelters, India rail crash probe focuses on track management system, Japan, South Korea to speed up talks over pending military issues, Israel accuses U.N. nuclear watchdog of 'capitulating' to Iran, Kremlin: Western long-range missiles to Ukraine will fuel 'spiralling tension', Iraq and Syria discuss tackling cross-border drug trade. Copenhagen Denmark has voted in a historic referendum to take part in EU security policy, scrapping its 30-year opt-out. They have trained and built a large army over many years and maintain that high level of readiness. If Putins goal is neo-imperialism, theres no reason why Finland shouldnt be next, says Lagadec. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre-long (830-mile-long) border with Russia. Across the Baltic Sea, Swedes are becoming more favorable towards membership as well. Members must unanimously agree to add new members, which can get complex as politics come into play, as seen with Turkeys Sweden opposition. Tampere, 4. Russia, which has opposed NATOs eastward expansion has said any move by Helsinki to join would be of special concern. Now, the country will be protected by Article Five, the alliances mutual defense clause that ensures member countries mutual protection. By chance, there was a changeover in the Russian army. And chatting with them gave me the thought that OK, we are not enemies here., Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. It will be based on a strong mandate", premier Marin said. International Womens Day: Lets talk about human rights! Everybodys waiting for a referendum and are not taking a stance on the real question We do have a parliament to decide on issues., To apply for a membership when a crisis is knocking on the door, forget that. Not with delay, but carefully, he said. A new era is opening", Niinisto said. Niinisto, 69, who will stand as an independent candidate after previously representing the conservative National Coalition Party, is known for cultivating good relations with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The pros, and cons, of Finland joining Nato. The latest news, data and analysis on the worlds pandemic response. HELSINKI, April 20 (Reuters) - Finland inched closer to joining NATO on Wednesday after its major parliamentary groups expressed support for some form of a military alliance as a response to. It is also not time to make these kind of decisions to apply for NATO membership and to make tension between Europe and Russia even more dangerous, to change the power balance in Europe. An economy ministry spokesperson said the German government was taking the necessary precautions and preparing for various scenarios. Finland is expected to announce its intention to join Nato on Thursday with Sweden likely to follow soon after, diplomats and officials have said, as . We have kept our military non-aligned position, although we cooperate with several of our neighbour states such as Sweden, and the United States, and also NATO, said Kangaspuro. Russia's invasion of Ukraine tipped popular opinion in Finland to support joining the NATO defense alliance, despite threats over such plans from its eastern neighbor. The history with Finland goes back to the 19th century when Russia took it from Sweden during a war in 1808. The determined Finns showed fierce resistance: vast stockpiles of then-legal heroin, consumed like aspirin, kept the Finns fighting through their runny noses. Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. Audience ratings certified by ACPM/OJD. STOCKHOLM, April 28 (Reuters) - Sweden's government does not plan to hold a referendum if its parliament decides to proceed with an application for NATO membership, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on Friday. Russian president Vladimir Putin has cited the issue as a reason for his actions in Ukraine, which has also expressed a desire to eventually join the alliance. France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines. March 3, 2022 Will Finland and Sweden join NATO now? Latest news, analysis and comment on German politics and beyond. Finnish political parties will gather on Tuesday to discuss Russias attack on Ukraine and Finlands role in Europes new power balance. Finlands president is in charge of foreign and defence policy together with the government. Helsinki, Finland For decades, Finland refused to take sides for or against Russia, a position that kept the peace but also confined its sovereignty. 2023 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved. For its part Moscow has imposed sanctions on the owner of the Polish part of the Yamal pipeline that carries Russian gas to Europe, as well as Gazproms former German unit, whose subsidiaries service Europes gas consumption. Europe was now going to fundamentally rethink its relationship with Russia.. For the first time, most Finns want to join NATO. The Finnish government officially announced its intention to join NATO on Sunday, as Sweden's ruling party was to hold a decisive meeting that could pave the way for a joint application. "Avoiding tensions was considered important," Niinisto said in a statement after the call. The leader of the Moderates, the biggest opposition party, has also rejected calls for a referendum on the issue. The vote will allow Danish troops to take part in EU military missions.. In the wider Nordic region, Norway, Denmark and the three Baltic states are already Nato members, and the addition of Finland and Sweden would probably anger Moscow, which says enlargement of the organisation is a direct threat to its own security. Finnish soldiers take part in the Army mechanised exercise Arrow 22 exercise at the Niinisalo garrison in Kankaanpaa, Finland on May 4, 2022. This policy scarred Finnish public opinion for decades, adds Lagadec, making many opposed to military alliances. Niinisto said Sunday he was "prepared to have a new discussion with President Erdogan about the problems he has raised". The Finnish Nato debate returned with a vengeance last week as a result of Russian aggression on Ukraine, with opinion poll figures flipping almost overnight : for the first time 'yes' to Finnish Nato membership got over half of popular support, at 53 percent. The country has had an on and off relationship with Russia going back centuries. "It's very clear that Swedish voters have understood what happened on 24 February and have drawn their conclusions.". Just over two months ago, the prospect of Finland joining NATO was virtually unthinkable to most in the northern European country. Finland is expected to exceed NATO's defense spending target of 2% of the country's gross domestic product in 2022, and Sweden has committed to meet the 2% goal. All rights reserved. Any move by Finland to join NATO would need public approval via a referendum, President Sauli Niinisto told a panel debate on Monday ahead of elections in January. Georgia and Ukraine are also angling to join the alliance but face high barriers for entry. In a move premier Marin called historic, Finland announced it is offering Ukraine weapons. An overwhelming majority of Finnish MPs back the decision after Marin's Social Democratic Party on Saturday said it was in favour of joining. Ukrainian authorities say between 150,000 and 170,000 of the citys 400,000 residents are still living there amid the Russian-occupied ruins. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Today's WorldView Amid Russian aggression, NATO nonalignment creates risk for Finland and Sweden Analysis by Anthony Faiola Correspondent at Large March 14, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. EDT 7 min Article. We have safe solutions also for our future. Finland announces 'historic' NATO bid, Sweden expected to follow suit The Finnish government officially announced its intention to join NATO on Sunday, as Sweden's ruling party was to hold a. But it was still careful not to anger its bigger neighbour. Finland will offer weapons to Ukraine and the aid will be delivered quickly. In southern Ukraine, where Russia has seized a swathe of territory, Kyiv has said Moscow plans to hold a fake referendum on independence or annexation to cement its occupation. Nils Torvalds, the only one of seven presidential candidates who advocates joining NATO, said politicians needed to show leadership on the issue. All 30 members of NATO would need to ratify each country's membership which could take anywhere from a few months to a year.. "From this perspective, the issue will also figure in tomorrow's parliamentary debate," Marin said. An opinion poll by Demoskop in daily Aftonbladet published on April 20 showed 57% of Swedes in favour of joining NATO, up from 51% in March. Only 16% currently oppose membership. Finland is expected to announce its intention to join Nato on Thursday with Sweden likely to follow soon after, diplomats and officials have said, as Russias invasion of Ukraine reshapes European security and the Atlantic military alliance. But the threat of invasion meant that was no longer enough. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto signed Finland's national NATO legislation last month. April 4, 2023 8:46 AM EDT F inland became the 31st member of NATO today, in a swift journey that began in response to Russia's Ukraine invasion. Finland should seriously consider joining NATO because of Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine and could hold a referendum on the issue some time after its 2015 election, its defense minister . They were all coming home at that time and new recruits were coming in. Only 21 percent of Finns support joining NATO, while 51 percent are opposed, a poll by YLE showed in February. But now with these actions, I think theres absolutely no question about it. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced both Sweden and Finland to review long held beliefs that military neutrality is the best means of ensuring national security, with both countries expected to make a decision in the coming few weeks. 18 of 20 19 of 20 Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna from Estonia, center, and Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto from Finland during NATO's informal meeting of foreign ministers in Oslo, Thursday, June . In the lead-up to their Nato accession, British prime minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday promised to defend Sweden and Finland against potential Russian threats as he travelled to both countries to sign mutual security agreements. Read More: Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin Ousted, Conservatives Win Tight Vote. Andersson said that a referendum was a "bad idea". Article Sisters But Not Twins: Prospects of Finland and Sweden's NATO Accession By Robin Forsberg & Jason C. Moyer on February 2, 2022 Global Europe Program NATO Security and Defense Global Alliances & Partnerships Finland Sweden Europe Unlike other countries aligned with one or other of the two main power blocs led from either Washington or the Kremlin, Finland was part of neither, allowing it some flexibility. The developments came as Ukraine said it was shutting down Russian gas flows through territory held by Russian-backed separatists the first time the conflict has directly disrupted shipments to Europe. Read More: Inside Ukraines Push to Try Putin for War Crimes. 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