Posted on 06/14/2014 11:34:39 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Alexander Stubb is set to become Finland’s next prime minister, and he said he wants the country to join NATO. This could cause problems since Russia has “warned” Finland, along with Sweden, over a relationship with NATO and even told NATO that Moscow will respond if the organization builds near Russia’s borders. ....
"We have to aim at maximising [sic] Finland's national security and being part of decision-making, and that happens best as a NATO member," Stubb told Reuters. ....
Finland borders Russia, and due to Moscow’s aggression towards Ukraine, the country is concerned with national security. Russia issued a stern warning at Finland’s National Defense Courses Association meeting against joining NATO.
"Military cooperation between Russia and NATO is progressing well and is beneficial to both parties. In contrast, cooperation between Finland and NATO threatens Russia's security. Finland should not be desirous of NATO membership, rather it should preferably have tighter military cooperation with Russia," said Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Nikolai Yegorovich Makarov.
During the last week of March, Russia decided to perform military exercises on Finland’s border, which was just a week after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine. While the countries cooperate with NATO and the other NATO Nordic states Denmark, Norway, and Iceland, recent events may force Sweden and Finland to do more. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s senior political adviser, Sergei Markov, said “Russophobia” is the reason behind Finland’s desire to join NATO.
“Finland should think of the consequences, if it ponders joining NATO. It must ask could joining start World War III? Anti-Semitism started World War II. Russophobia can start a third world war. Finland is one of the most Russophobic countries in Europe, after Sweden, Poland and the Baltic countries,” said Markov.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Not exactly a typical Finnish name, is it?
All the Nordic nations together reach a population of about 20 million. (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland)
But they have very high GDP per capita, giving defense spending dollars, and technical expertice.
If they added the three Baltic states, they would have greater standing. I believe Norway, Denmark and Iceland are NATO full members, but Sweden is not-opting for a cooperative level of participation.
Sweden prides itself, on avoiding war for 200 years now since 1814.
http://www.algonet.se/~hogman/svenska%20krig%20eng%20-%20grafiskt.htm
Finland shed blood in WWII, so standing up to Russia comes with history for them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Finland
Now THAT’S something that may set Russia off.
Finland basically had to promise their Cold War neutrality in order to not have the Soviets demand an even bigger slice of their country after WW2.
The Finns love to flip off the Russians.
and the Finns fought impressively in WW2
The same old, persistant bully, even with its propeller driven relics, striving to conquer other nations with little more than huff, puff intimidation and to mismanage another commie/fascist empire.
Russian Bombers Fly Within 50 Miles of California Coast
freebeacon.com ^ | June 11, 2014 | Bill Gertz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3166571/posts
Reagan was right about calling it an evil empire.
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