Major decisions have been made in Finland’s security policy over the past six months, when the country has been planning to join NATO.
Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen (Cen) estimates that Finland’s long-established NATO compatibility will help the country adapt to NATO membership.
"You could say that we are fully compatible with NATO. We meet the criteria for NATO membership," Kaikkonen said at the start of the 240th national defense course at Säätytalo in Helsinki.
Intended for military personnel and civilian leaders of business and politics, the course aims to provide an overall picture of foreign, security and defense policy.
Kaikkonen said that in the best case, Finland could become a full member of NATO by the end of this year.
"Naturally, we do our part to ensure that the membership is realized as quickly as possible," Kaikkonen emphasized.
Finland is currently an observer member of NATO and not a full member.
On Sunday, the French president Emmanuel Macron signed Finland’s NATO membership protocol. On Saturday, the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö posted a video with the President of the United States Joe Biden and the Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson where Biden confirmed the commitment of the United States to the security of the Nordic countries.
General Timo KivinenThe commander of the defense forces added that NATO membership strengthens Finland’s security. According to Kivinen, the defense forces will be developed from the perspective of NATO cooperation.
"It is important to fulfill the union’s common defense obligations," Kivinen said.
Kaikkonen: Finland does not support terrorism
The Minister of Defense calculated that so far 23 out of 30 NATO countries have confirmed Finland’s NATO membership. A decision by the parliaments of the seven remaining member states is still awaited.
Among the seven is Turkey, where Kaikkonen remembers being worried about terrorism, but they were discussed in a document signed at the NATO summit in Madrid in June.
"And you can say it out loud, as everyone in Finland knows: Finland does not support terrorism. not at all" Kaikkonen pointed out and added, "Our authorities work every day to fight terrorism. And I think it’s fair to say that they do so quite successfully."
Finland’s defense capability strengthens NATO
According to Kaikkonen, Finland already has a credible national defense capability that is well compatible with NATO.
"We are well prepared for various security threats," Kaikkonen assured.
Kaikkonen continued to praise Finland’s excellent defense capability and crisis resilience, which, according to him, would strengthen NATO’s defense in the entire alliance.
"As a member, Finland joins NATO’s joint air and missile defense system, we participate in the exchange of common air and sea situational information and in deeper intelligence cooperation," the defense minister said.
Kaikkonen stated that with membership, Finland has the opportunity to send defense forces to help another NATO member country and, if necessary, receive Finnish personnel from other NATO member countries.
According to Kaikkonen, professional soldiers and volunteer reservists would in principle be used in all tasks outside Finland’s borders.
Source: The Nordic Page
