News Highlight
On April 4, 2023, Finland finally became the 31st country to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Key Takeaway
- Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö, declared that “the age of military non-alignment in our history has come to an end.”
- The Russian incursion of Ukraine last year prompted the decision to join the security alliance.
- Finland’s historical relationship with Moscow and the changing character of international geopolitics as Russia’s power declines.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that while it will respond with “military-technical measures,” the specifics of its operations will be determined by the rules of Finland’s membership in NATO.
Finland Joining NATO
- Background
- Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland has joined NATO.
- It has helped its weaker neighbours realise the importance of NATO’s robust military support.
- Following the invasion, Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership.
- Finland has a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.
- It marks the end of more than 70 years of military non-alignment.
- Finlandisation was a Cold War-era strategy of neutrality between the Soviet Union and the West.
- It was one of the options explored for Ukraine before Russia invaded it.
- Impacts of Joining NATO
- Finland has improved its security, yet it is losing considerable trade and tourism earnings from Russia.
- It is a reassuring presence in the Baltic Sea and throughout Europe is under threat.
- The admission of Finland to NATO boosts its position to post weapons closer to Moscow by providing a force trained to repel a Russian attack.
- Moscow, however, regards this as a grave historical error that could worsen the Ukraine conflict.
- It will boost its military capabilities in the west and northwest.
Significance of Finland joining NATO
- Security Assurance
- NATO membership provides the states with security guarantees under the alliance’s “Article 5” on collective defence.
- The clause essentially assures NATO countries a military reaction and protection if any organisation member is attacked.
- Bolster the Nordic Region
- It would codify their security and defence cooperation with Denmark, Norway, and Iceland.
- Losing on Russian trade
- On the other hand, Finland is in a better situation regarding security.
- It is losing major commercial and tourist earnings from Russia and its role as the West’s gateway to the East.
- Threats from Russia
- Finland has made “a major historical blunder that would sour relations with Moscow and undermine its standing as a confidence-building presence in the Baltic Sea and Europe at large,” according to Russia.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- About
- NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, is a political and military alliance with 31 members.
- It was founded in 1949 to encourage mutual defence and collective security among its members.
- Members
- The Alliance was founded in 1949 by 12 countries:
- Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- Headquarters
- Brussels, Belgium
- Special Provision
- Article 5: A crucial element of the NATO treaty stipulates that an assault on one member is an attack on all members.
- This clause was only used once, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
- However, NATO’s protection does not extend to members’ civil wars or internal coups.
- Alliances of NATO
- Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)
- Mediterranean Dialogue
- Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI)
How can a country join NATO?
- Expressing Interest
- The country must notify NATO’s Secretary General of its desire to join the organisation.
- Meeting Criteria
- Several conditions must be met, including a democratic political system, a market economy, and the ability to contribute to the alliance’s missions and operations.
- Reaching out to NATO Member States
- To gain support for its NATO membership, the government must reach out to NATO member states.
- Membership Action Plan
- After expressing interest and meeting the criteria, the country may be invited to participate in a Membership Action Plan (MAP).
- The MAP is a procedure that assists the country in preparing for membership by providing a framework for dialogue and collaboration.
- Invitation to Join
- Ultimately, one of the alliance’s member states may invite the country to join NATO.
- A member state’s decision to invite a country to join NATO must be unanimous.
Conclusion
- After decades of non-alignment, Finland’s decision to join NATO represents a dramatic shift in Europe’s post-World War II alignment and further isolates Russia.
- While the change improves Finland’s security, it also implies a huge trade and tourist money loss.
- The admission of Finland to NATO delivers a force trained to repel a Russian attack.
- That allows it to station armaments closer to Russia, while it takes NATO closer to its borders, which Russia strongly opposes.
- India should focus on regional stability and meaningful discussion among all parties involved as the situation develops.
Pic Courtesy: PBS
Content Source: The Hindu