Russia’s prospect of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine is a key factor behind Finland’s debate over whether to join NATO, the country’s foreign minister said.
Peka Haavisto has been busy for several weeks. As Finland’s foreign minister, Haavisto, 64, may soon oversee the biggest political change the country has undergone since joining the EU nearly three decades ago. “Finland is currently making its choice. And in this election, NATO membership is one, “Haavisto told the Guardian in an interview Thursday.
Yesterday, the Finnish Parliament launched the long-awaited debate on the possibility of applying for NATO membership. Recent polls show a dramatic turn in public opinion in Finland, with the majority now supporting NATO accession following the invasion of Ukraine.
“Our security environment has changed dramatically since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24,” said the veteran Green Party politician.
Haavisto went on to list the conclusions Finland has made for its big neighbor that have led to political debate in his country. Moscow has shown its willingness to take growing risks in its military operations and has demonstrated its ability to quickly mobilize more than 100,000 troops against a neighboring country without conducting a general mobilization.
“Russia’s behavior is more unpredictable and it is ready to take higher risks than before. If we look at Georgia in 2008 or Crimea in 2014, we can say that in these cases Russia has taken calculated risks, “the minister said, referring to the war in Georgia and the annexation of Crimea.
“The difference now is that we see that Russia’s original goal when attacking Ukraine was to change the regime in a country of 40 million people. This is a high-risk operation for Russia, but Russia has shown that it is ready to take those risks.
Haavisto also said he was deeply concerned by reports that Russia could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine as its military continues to fight.
“For Russia’s neighbors, the country’s free talks on the use of unconventional weapons, including tactical nuclear weapons and chemicals, are very inconvenient.
“This is a really worrying issue for us. This sparked talks in Finland about our own security position in Europe.
Sweden and Finland are considering NATO membership
Western intelligence officials have begun publicly warning that the Kremlin could target tactical or other limited nuclear weapons in its arsenal if its invasion of Ukraine continues to interfere. On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that these concerns were shared by some senior Russian officials and senior managers of state-owned companies.
Russia, which has previously denied planning a military operation against Ukraine, has said it is committed to avoiding a nuclear war. However, on Wednesday, Moscow launched its Sarmatian intercontinental ballistic missile, a new addition to its nuclear arsenal, which President Vladimir Putin said would give Moscow’s enemies “something to think about.”
Haavisto said that for the first time in their long political careers, Finns “on the streets” were dealing with the “nuclear” issue.
“A typical question I now get from people on the streets or in shops, which I have not had in my entire political life, is what Finland will do if it is threatened by nuclear or chemical weapons. As a politician, you have to have an answer to that, “he said.
The fact that Finland, a country that has traditionally maintained a dialogue with the Kremlin, openly raises the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons shows how great a threat the West sees as a country after its invasion of Ukraine.
Popular Scandinavian President Sauli Niinisto – often described as “whispering to Putin” about his direct line to the Kremlin – has been embroiled in lengthy talks trying to persuade the Russian president not to invade Ukraine.
Now Haavisto shrugged that it was “a great disappointment that Russia chose the military route to Ukraine” despite Finland’s efforts.
The minister said Finland had kept its diplomatic channels open with Russia during the war, citing Niinisto’s conversation with Putin on March 10th as one of the ways his country was trying to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
Finland is expected to decide whether to apply for NATO membership in the next few weeks and it will take between 4 and 12 months for the 30 members to formally join the country.
“In this period we are prepared for all kinds [Russian] interference, cyber attacks, hybrid attacks, etc. It’s just something you have to be prepared for, “Haavisto said.
On Wednesday, many discussions in Helsinki’s parliament focused on the changes the country will see if it becomes part of the defense bloc, given Finland’s 830-mile border with Russia.
“I think the main idea of NATO is this common and shared security, which is activated in times of crisis, in times of conflict you get help from other members,” Haavisto said, adding that Finland intends to maintain conscription and its reserve. of 280,000 people. soldiers.
“But in peacetime I do not see a serious change in our defense… Russia is and will always be our neighbor. We have always valued the peaceful border, we would like to keep it that way. “
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