Finland votes for a new President who will guide policy for the new NATO member and neighbour of Russia
10 months, 1 week ago

Finland votes for a new President who will guide policy for the new NATO member and neighbour of Russia

The Hindu  

Voters in Finland are choosing on February 11 between two experienced politicians to be their next President, whose main task will be to steer the Nordic country’s foreign and security policy now that it is a member of NATO, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, 55, on the center right, and former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, 65, from the green left, largely agree on Finland’s foreign policy and security priorities. Mr. Stubb and Mr. Haavisto differ in their stance on the hypothetical question of whether Finland would allow the transportation of the alliance’s nuclear weapons through its territory. we don’t want any nuclear weapons.” Mr. Haavisto said Saturday that he does not favor nuclear arms being transported via Finland in a crisis situation.

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History of this topic

NATO newcomer Finland is now a ‘front-line state’ for the alliance, Finnish president says
8 months ago

NATO newcomer Finland is now a ‘front-line state’ for the alliance, Finnish president says

Associated Press  

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Tuesday that joining the NATO alliance a year ago has transformed his country into a “front-line state,” given that it has doubled the military bloc’s border with Russia. Finland, which became the 31st NATO member in April 202 3, has a 1,340-kilometer land border with Russia that runs mostly through thick forests …

Finland’s new president Alexander Stubb says the Nordic country enters ‘a new era’ as a NATO member
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Finland’s new president Alexander Stubb says the Nordic country enters ‘a new era’ as a NATO member

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Alexander Stubb was sworn in Friday as Finland’s new president and said that the Nordic country “is facing a new era” after becoming a NATO member — something he will demonstrate by making his first foreign trip to inspect the military alliance’s drill in neighboring Norway’s Arctic region. “If someone had told me two years ago that the …

New NATO member Finland elects a president set to keep up hard line on neighboring Russia
10 months, 1 week ago

New NATO member Finland elects a president set to keep up hard line on neighboring Russia

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb has narrowly won a runoff vote to become Finland’s next president, who will steer security policy that includes integrating the new NATO member into the alliance at a time of concern over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The head of state also commands the military — a key role after Finland joined NATO in …

Centre-right Alexander Stubb elected Finland’s next president
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Centre-right Alexander Stubb elected Finland’s next president

Al Jazeera  

New president will have a central role in defining Finland’s NATO policies, amid growing security concerns about Russia. Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb has won the run-off election against ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto to become Finland’s next president, and to take on the task of steering the Nordic country’s foreign and security policy now that it is a member of …

Finland votes in run-off for new president
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Finland votes in run-off for new president

Al Jazeera  

Finns are headed to the polls to choose between two experienced politicians in a presidential election run-off. More than four million people are eligible to vote on Sunday for a new head of state, whose main task will be to steer foreign and security policy, which has taken on new significance after the Nordic country joined NATO in response to …

Finland’s presidential election runoff to feature former prime minister and ex-top diplomat
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Finland’s presidential election runoff to feature former prime minister and ex-top diplomat

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finland faces a runoff presidential election in February between a former prime minister expected to have the advantage and a former foreign minister who negotiated the country’s recent entry into NATO and was the runner-up in Sunday’s first round. Former Foreign Minister and green politician Pekka Haavisto, Finland’s top diplomat in 2019-2023, received 25.8%. Stubb is described as …

Finns go to the polls Sunday to elect a new president at a time of increased tension with Russia
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Finns go to the polls Sunday to elect a new president at a time of increased tension with Russia

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finns will vote Sunday to elect a new president at an unprecedented time: the Nordic nation is now a NATO member following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and its eastern border with Russia is closed, both almost unthinkable a few years ago. Unlike in most European countries, the president of Finland holds executive power in formulating foreign and security …

‘Voters are looking for a mini-Niinisto’: Finland braces for new president
10 months, 4 weeks ago

‘Voters are looking for a mini-Niinisto’: Finland braces for new president

Al Jazeera  

Under Sauli Niinisto, Finland’s relationship with Russia changed as the Nordic nation became a critical European power. When Sauli Niinisto became Finland’s president 12 years ago, he looked forward to developing a European defence policy, pursuing “opportunities” in China, and preserving “an operating environment as predictable as possible with Russia”, which, he said, “remains at the centre of our foreign …

New NATO member Finland set to pick president after 12 years of Niinisto
11 months ago

New NATO member Finland set to pick president after 12 years of Niinisto

Al Jazeera  

As war rages in Ukraine, the Nordic nation’s new leader’s trickiest challenges are likely to regard Russia. Finland, Europe’s easternmost liberal democracy and a new NATO member, is bracing for an important presidential election. Finland’s prime minister runs the executive branch of government, but the Finnish president remains directly responsible for defence and foreign policy, as articulated in sections 58 …

Putin threatening Finland and preparing for potential war with Nato, warns think tank
1 year ago

Putin threatening Finland and preparing for potential war with Nato, warns think tank

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Vladimir Putin is preparing for …

Russia slams West, NATO; warns of 'problems' with Finland
1 year ago

Russia slams West, NATO; warns of 'problems' with Finland

Firstpost  

With Finland joining NATO, the security environment in northern Europe underwent a notable change, with the alliance’s border with Russia expanding by more than 1,300 kilometres Following Finland’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning about “problems” with the country, CNN reported. All disputes, including those of a territorial …

Finland, NATO's Newest Member, Will Sign a Defence Pact with the United States
1 year ago

Finland, NATO's Newest Member, Will Sign a Defence Pact with the United States

News 18  

NATO’s newest member, Finland, which shares a border with Russia, is to sign a bilateral defence cooperation agreement next week with the United States in a deal that allows Washington to send troops into the Nordic country to bolster its defence and store weapons and military equipment there, among other things. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told a news conference …

Finland’s journey, from neutral to NATO
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland’s journey, from neutral to NATO

The Hindu  

On April 4, 2023, Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, becoming its 31st member. During the flag-raising ceremony in Brussels, the NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said, “Finland is safer, and NATO is stronger with Finland as an ally.” As predicted, Russian authorities have signalled possible ‘countermeasures’ to the alleged ‘assault on its security and national interests’. The main rationale …

Explained | On Finland’s journey to join NATO
1 year, 8 months ago

Explained | On Finland’s journey to join NATO

The Hindu  

The story so far: On April 4, 2023, Finland finally became the 31st country to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after applying last May. The move to join the security alliance was precipitated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, Finland’s historical experience with Moscow, and the changing nature of international geopolitics with a declining Russian influence. The …

Opinion: Now that Finland is part of NATO, can it help Ukraine?
1 year, 8 months ago

Opinion: Now that Finland is part of NATO, can it help Ukraine?

LA Times  

Officials at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were celebrating at their headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday as the alliance welcomed Finland into its fold. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in attendance to receive Finland’s accession documents, noted that the alliance is now “more united than ever,” along with an off-handed remark that perhaps “this is the one thing we can …

Finland’s long-held neutrality is over. What next?
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland’s long-held neutrality is over. What next?

Al Jazeera  

Russia has sounded the alarm, but analysts say a Moscow-Helsinki conflict is unlikely. “Russia has so far reacted quite calmly to Finland’s accession,” Anatol Lieven, a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told Al Jazeera. It has no Russian minority, and Russia has no territorial claims against Finland.” Experts maintain that Moscow’s attitude toward Finland would …

‘A new era begins’: Finland joins Nato, doubling alliance’s border with Russia
1 year, 8 months ago

‘A new era begins’: Finland joins Nato, doubling alliance’s border with Russia

The Independent  

A historic realignment of Europe triggered by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was cemented on Tuesday as Finland became the 31st member of Nato, dealing a major blow to Moscow. “The era of nonalignment in our history has come to an end – a new era begins,” President Sauli Niinisto said before his country’s flag was raised outside Nato headquarters …

Explained: What Finland's entry into NATO means for the organisation
1 year, 8 months ago

Explained: What Finland's entry into NATO means for the organisation

Firstpost  

Paris: Finland on Tuesday becoming the 31st member of NATO is a strategic step that doubles the military alliance’s border with Russia and provides the coalition with additional military capacity. With Finland joining NATO, “Russia’s northwestern flank becomes more vulnerable”, security experts Nicholas Lokker and Heli Hautala wrote on Friday on defence-focused website War on the Rocks. The troops “Together …

Finland joins NATO in major blow to Russia over Ukraine war
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland joins NATO in major blow to Russia over Ukraine war

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — Finland joined the NATO military alliance Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a historic realignment of Europe’s post-Cold War security landscape triggered by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “I’m tempted to say this is maybe the one thing that we can thank Mr. Putin for because he once again here precipitated something he claims …

Finland doubling NATO's border with Russia in blow to Putin
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland doubling NATO's border with Russia in blow to Putin

The Hindu  

The blue-and-white Finnish flag rises outside NATO headquarters Tuesday afternoon, making Finland a member and doubling Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko warned that Moscow would bolster its own forces “in case of deployment of forces of other NATO members on the territory of Finland.” “We will strengthen our military potential in …

Finland joins Nato, Russia warns of counter measures
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland joins Nato, Russia warns of counter measures

India Today  

Finland formally joined the Nato military alliance on Tuesday in a historic policy shift brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, drawing a threat from Moscow of "countermeasures". Finland's accession roughly doubles the length of the border that Nato shares with Russia and bolsters its eastern flank as the war in Ukraine grinds on with no resolution in sight. READ …

'Putin gets more Nato' as Finland joins military alliance, Sweden still waiting
1 year, 8 months ago

'Putin gets more Nato' as Finland joins military alliance, Sweden still waiting

India Today  

Finland becomes the 31st member of Nato on Tuesday, in a historic strategic shift provoked by Moscow's war on Ukraine, which doubles the US-led alliance's border with Russia. Last year, the Kremlin's all-out invasion of Ukraine upended Europe's security landscape and prompted Finland -- and its neighbour Sweden -- to drop decades of non-alignment. Awkward allies Turkey and Hungary, for …

Finland doubling NATO’s border with Russia in blow to Putin
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland doubling NATO’s border with Russia in blow to Putin

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The blue-and-white Finnish flag rises outside NATO headquarters Tuesday afternoon, making Finland a member and doubling Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance. “It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole,” Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday on the eve of a meeting of alliance’s foreign ministers in …

‘Historic moment’ as Finland joins NATO; Russia issues warning
1 year, 8 months ago

‘Historic moment’ as Finland joins NATO; Russia issues warning

Al Jazeera  

Finland will become the 31st member of the world’s biggest military alliance on Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says, prompting a warning from Russia that it would bolster its defences in response. Stoltenberg said Turkey, the last NATO country to have ratified Finland’s membership, will hand its official texts to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. We …

NATO chief says Finland to become member 'in coming days'
1 year, 8 months ago

NATO chief says Finland to become member 'in coming days'

The Hindu  

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that Finland would formally become a member within days, as he congratulated its president on clearing the final obstacle to joining. Mr. Stoltenberg said in separate statement that "Finland has highly capable forces, advanced capabilities, and strong democratic institutions." Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year upended European security and pushed Finland and its neighbour …

Finland’s NATO membership: What’s next?
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland’s NATO membership: What’s next?

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Finland received the green light to join NATO when Turkey ratified the Nordic country’s membership late Thursday, becoming the last country in the 30-member Western military alliance to sign off. However, a few more steps and procedures are required before the northern European nation becomes the 31st full NATO member: ACCEPTANCE LETTERS Turkey and Hungary dispatch acceptance letters …

Finland is on the cusp of joining NATO. What still needs to happen?
1 year, 8 months ago

Finland is on the cusp of joining NATO. What still needs to happen?

LA Times  

Finland received the green light to join NATO when Turkey late Thursday became the final country in the 30-member Western military alliance to sign off on the Nordic nation’s membership. Acceptance letters Turkey and Hungary will dispatch acceptance letters to the U.S., which is the “depositary,” or safekeeper, of NATO under the alliance’s 1949 founding treaty. The letters will be …

Hungary ratifies Finland's NATO bid: What comes next for the Nordic nation?
1 year, 8 months ago

Hungary ratifies Finland's NATO bid: What comes next for the Nordic nation?

Firstpost  

Helsinki: Finland has moved one step closer to joining NATO after Hungary ratified the Nordic country’s bid on Monday. Still, there are specific steps and procedures that are required before Finland becomes the 31st full member of the Western alliance: Acceptance letters Hungary and Turkey — once it has ratified Finland’s bid — dispatch acceptance letters to the United States …

President seals Finland's NATO bid by signing required laws
1 year, 9 months ago

President seals Finland's NATO bid by signing required laws

The Hindu  

The Finnish president on Thursday formally sealed the Nordic country’s historic bid to join NATO by signing into law the required national legal amendments needed for membership in the Western military alliance. Members of the Turkish parliament’s committee on foreign affairs voted in favor of Finland’s bid a week after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would move …

President seals Finland’s NATO bid by signing required laws
1 year, 9 months ago

President seals Finland’s NATO bid by signing required laws

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — The Finnish president on Thursday formally sealed the Nordic country’s historic bid to join NATO by signing into law the required national legal amendments needed for membership in the Western military alliance. In Turkey Thursday, a parliamentary committee approved Finland’s NATO application, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported, bringing Helsinki a step closer to joining the alliance. Members of …

Turkey's president says he will back Finland's NATO bid
1 year, 9 months ago

Turkey's president says he will back Finland's NATO bid

The Hindu  

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Turkey would move forward with ratifying Finland’s NATO application, paving the way for the country to join the military bloc ahead of Sweden. The breakthrough came as Finnish President Sauli Niinisto was in Ankara to meet with Mr. Erdogan and 10 months after both Finland and Sweden applied to become NATO members in …

Swedish leader: Finland likely to join NATO before Sweden
1 year, 9 months ago

Swedish leader: Finland likely to join NATO before Sweden

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Sweden’s prime minister acknowledged Tuesday that it is increasingly likely that neighbor Finland will join NATO before his country does, due to Turkey’s opposition to the Swedish bid. Since they announcing their intention to join the military alliance in May last year, Finland and Sweden have consistently stressed that they would become members of the military alliance at …

NATO chief: membership for Finland, Sweden ‘top priority’
1 year, 9 months ago

NATO chief: membership for Finland, Sweden ‘top priority’

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — NATO membership for Finland and Sweden is “a top priority,” alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday, urging members Turkey and Hungary to urgently ratify the Nordic countries’ accession. Stoltenberg repeated that Finland and Sweden fully meet NATO’s entry criteria and “have delivered on what they were supposed to do” after they applied to join the alliance in May. …

Opinion: Finland wants to join NATO. But it may have to ditch an old friend to do so
1 year, 10 months ago

Opinion: Finland wants to join NATO. But it may have to ditch an old friend to do so

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Marja Heinonen, a Finnish author of several books, has more than three decades’ experience as a journalist, editor and in academia, and holds a doctorate in communications. Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin said at a press conference in Stockholm this month that Helsinki would join NATO “hand in hand” with Sweden. There are, however, varying interpretations of “hand …

Defense minister: Finland could join NATO ahead of Sweden
1 year, 10 months ago

Defense minister: Finland could join NATO ahead of Sweden

Associated Press  

MUNICH — Finland’s defense minister said Saturday that his country will join NATO without waiting for Sweden if its Nordic neighbor’s accession is held up by the Turkish government. Mikko Savola told The Associated Press on Saturday that Finland would prefer that that the two countries join the alliance together, but it wouldn’t hold up the process if Turkey decides …

With NATO move, is normally neutral Finland boosting security?
2 years, 5 months ago

With NATO move, is normally neutral Finland boosting security?

Al Jazeera  

Almost as soon as the Ukraine war broke out, Finland, which shares a border with Russia, embraced the Western military alliance. Between November 2021 and February 24, the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow was pushing for “security guarantees” while demanding an end to NATO enlargement, which upset Finnish officials. Perhaps … the Baltic states could be ‘on the menu,’ maybe …

NATO nations sign accession protocols for Sweden, Finland
2 years, 5 months ago

NATO nations sign accession protocols for Sweden, Finland

India TV News  

Highlights The accession increases Russia's strategic isolation in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine Parliamentary approval by Turkey could still pose problems for the final inclusion as members Permanent representatives formally approved NATO's decision to invite Finland and Sweden as members The 30 NATO allies signed off on the accession protocols for Sweden and Finland on Tuesday, sending the …

Finland and Sweden move step closer to joining Nato, as Turkey drops opposition to membership
2 years, 5 months ago

Finland and Sweden move step closer to joining Nato, as Turkey drops opposition to membership

The Telegraph  

Washington did not want to bow to Turkish demands to resume sales of fighter jets, however this was expected to be a key part in a deal to bring Finland and Sweden into Nato. “Us becoming Nato allies will further strengthen this commitment.” Membership would more than double Nato/Russia border Finnish and Swedish membership would more than double the length …

It's time to stop the eastward expansion of NATO
2 years, 6 months ago

It's time to stop the eastward expansion of NATO

China Daily  

Staff members work at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. Apart from NATO's physical expansion, the membership of Sweden and Finland, if it materializes, will also have a significant impact on the overall security and geopolitical structure of Europe, given that the two countries rank 11th and 14th in the world in terms of per capita income. …

It's time to stop the eastward expansion of NATO
2 years, 6 months ago

It's time to stop the eastward expansion of NATO

China Daily  

Staff members work at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. Apart from NATO's physical expansion, the membership of Sweden and Finland, if it materializes, will also have a significant impact on the overall security and geopolitical structure of Europe, given that the two countries rank 11th and 14th in the world in terms of per capita income. …

NATO: Turkey says Sweden, Finland should amend laws if needed
2 years, 6 months ago

NATO: Turkey says Sweden, Finland should amend laws if needed

Al Jazeera  

Ankara reiterates threat to block Nordic countries’ joining of the security alliance over alleged ‘support for terror’. Turkey’s foreign minister has said Finland and Sweden should change their laws if needed to win Ankara’s backing in their historic bid to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, doubling down on a threat to veto an enlargement of the alliance. Sweden, …

NATO not planning nuclear arms or bases in Finland: PM
2 years, 7 months ago

NATO not planning nuclear arms or bases in Finland: PM

Al Jazeera  

Sanna Marin tells an Italian newspaper that there is no indication from the alliance that membership would mean a scaled-up military footprint. An earlier version of this story quoted Prime Minister Sanna Marin as saying Finland was opposed to NATO deploying nuclear weapons or setting up military bases on her country's territory. NATO has not expressed any interest in placing …

NATO talks with Finland, Sweden falter but will continue
2 years, 7 months ago

NATO talks with Finland, Sweden falter but will continue

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — NATO envoys failed to reach a consensus Wednesday on whether to start membership talks with Finland and Sweden, diplomats said, as Turkey renewed its objections to the two Nordic countries joining. The envoys met at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels after Finland and Sweden’s ambassadors submitted written applications to join the military organization, in a move that marks one …

DC EDIT | Nordics in Nato? Blow to Putin
2 years, 7 months ago

DC EDIT | Nordics in Nato? Blow to Putin

Deccan Chronicle  

A tectonic shift in Europe’s security architecture caused by Russia waging war on Ukraine has led to Sweden and Finland going hand in hand to apply for membership in Nato. The expansion of Nato to 32 countries might hinge on Turkey accepting the proposal as it had objected to the new applicants on the grounds that they had hosted Kurdish …

Finland’s bid to join NATO
2 years, 7 months ago

Finland’s bid to join NATO

The Hindu  

“The Lord’s our shepherd”, says the Psalm But just in case, we better get a bomb!’ -Tom Lehrer, Who’s next? One would expect NATO membership to allay Finland and Sweden’s security concerns to a reasonable degree as all the countries involved in the highly volatile region would, likely, reach an impasse until someone decides to break through the gridlock through …

Fuel to fire: The Hindu Editorial on Finland joining NATO
2 years, 7 months ago

Fuel to fire: The Hindu Editorial on Finland joining NATO

The Hindu  

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 apparently to stop NATO’s further expansion into its neighbourhood. Last week, the Prime Minister and President of Finland, which has stayed neutral since the end of the Second World War, said they hoped their country would apply for NATO membership “without delay”. If these two countries now formally apply for membership, it would be …

Putin warns Finland NATO membership would harm relations
2 years, 7 months ago

Putin warns Finland NATO membership would harm relations

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his Finnish counterpart Saturday that relations between the two neighbors could be “negatively affected” if Finland follows through with plans to apply for NATO membership. The Kremlin’s press service said in a statement that Putin told Sauli Niinisto Finland’s abandonment “of its traditional policy of military neutrality would be an error since there …

Putin tells Finnish president: Joining NATO would be ‘mistake’
2 years, 7 months ago

Putin tells Finnish president: Joining NATO would be ‘mistake’

Al Jazeera  

The warning from Kremlin comes as Moscow cuts off its electricity supply to Finland following Helsinki’s plan to join NATO. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has told his Finnish counterpart that joining NATO would be “a mistake”, as Moscow cut off its electricity supply to the Nordic country earlier – in what is seen as retaliation for Helsinki’s moves. “Putin stressed …

Turkey’s leader opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO
2 years, 7 months ago

Turkey’s leader opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO

Associated Press  

HELSINKI — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that his country is “not favorable” toward Finland and Sweden joining NATO, indicating Turkey could use its membership in the Western military alliance to veto moves to admit the two countries. The White House said in a statement that Biden “underscored his support for NATO’s Open Door policy and for the …

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