“Finland’s leaders say they will decide whether to join NATO despite warnings from Russia against joining the Western alliance, as the military standoff on Ukraine’s border has heightened tensions between Moscow, the US and Washington’s European allies.”
Here’s the thing. Russia can take Finland whenever it wants. Why they would want it, is anyone’s guess.
Let Finland, Sweden and Ukraine join NATO providing we can leave it.
It is no wonder Russia has concerns about Finland joining nato...
Finland was one of Nazi Germany’s most important allies in the attack on the Soviet Union, allowing German troops to be based in Finland before the attack and joining in the attack on the USSR almost immediately...... The 1947 Paris Peace treaty signed by Finland stated that Finland had been “an ally of Hitlerite Germany” and bore partial responsibility for the conflict.
Maybe we don’t want to defend Finland.
At least Finland has a relationship to water that might some day be in the North Atlantic. And I doubt Russia is interested in going back into Finland. Except for vacation.
Invading, or even threatening Ukraine, is driving Finland into NATO.
Finland’s choice not Russia.
Since Finland doesn’t have a warm water port desired by Russia, Russia may squawk but isn’t likely to go to war over NATO as it would over anything that threatens its interests in the Black Sea.
Why is NATO still around again?
NATO rolls relentlessly east for 2 decades and a thousand miles. Finally when ready to bump up right against Russia, they give a minor pushback and protest.
NATO goes into hysterics and acts like they are ready to roll through the Fulda Gap with their army that is 10% of the size it was in 1989.
Maybe Russia should join NATO too?