Moscow –
Finland getting closer to joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance after President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister (PM) Sanaa Marin announced support for membership NATO. It got a strong reaction from Russia which borders directly with Finland.
As reported CNNOn Friday (13/5/2022), the Kremlin or the Russian presidential office in response said Finland’s move would be a threat to Moscow and warned of retaliation.
Statements of support from Niinisto and Marin were to be expected, especially after the Finnish government recently submitted a report to parliament on national security outlining a path to joining the NATO alliance as an option.
“NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security. As a NATO member, Finland will strengthen the entire defense alliance. Finland should register for NATO membership without delay. We hope that national steps are still needed to make this decision, which will be taken quickly in the next few days. ,” read a joint statement by Niinisto and Marin.
In response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the statement released by Finland marking a “radical change in foreign policy” for the country. The Russian Foreign Ministry also warned of countermeasures against Finland.
“Helsinki must realize the responsibility and consequences of such actions,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Finland’s joining with NATO would cause serious damage to bilateral relations between the two countries, which have been maintaining stability and security in the Northern European region.
“Russia will be forced to take countermeasures, both of a military and technical nature, in order to stop threats to its national security that have arisen in this regard,” the Russian Foreign Ministry warned.
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