Finland now wants to join NATO and wants to do it Fast

If you were following what is happening in Europe with this Ukraine and Russia conflict, we knew this story would be coming up next and that day has arrived. Finland now wants to join NATO and wants to do it FAST. Like, they want to join and be protected against Russia. Sweden and Finland have long been lukewarm on NATO involvement and kept themselves neutral — trying to benefit from EU and the Russia by balancing their strategies and forming a relationship carefully. They’ve done it well so far, but with Ukraine bleeding from Russia, Finland knew they would be the next in line, so they had to decide in a hurry.

The good news is that NATO wants to dance with Finland also. They were somewhat hesitant with Ukraine as Ukraine still has deep ties with Russia and other NATO nations weren’t very happy about Ukraine’s interest in joining the NATO party. Finland is a bit different story. All are welcoming Finland and that is NOT good news for Russia.

Finland has 1,300 kilometers (807 miles) border with Russia. That is a LONG border, much is the vast emptiness of arctic frozen wilderness. This harsh condition makes it difficult for ground-level combat with soldiers — meaning it’ll be difficult to invade. This is going to become a new problem for Russia.

Obviously, Russia does NOT want NATO as their neighbor. They want to keep them far away as they can since NATO’s sole purpose (they don’t say it on their website as the mission statement, but we all know) is to keep Russia quiet with military forces. They say, they’re an alliance of like-minded nations forming to share knowledge, and best practices, and be happy together, but it is essentially a team of nations to fight together against Russia and its allies (currently Belarus and Kazakhstan?). If Finland joins the NATO it means NATO missiles and radars to be placed by that long Finland-Russia borders — putting pressure on Russia to stay quiet and not engage in further invasions. Sounds familiar? Welcome to the new COLD WAR.

Sweden is next for sure. Sweden actually has a formidable military power with great technology and a range of weapons. Their membership in NATO would be a huge boost and detrimental to Russia. If Finland joins, Sweden is almost guaranteed to join and it can happen real fast real soon.

Now Russia will respond. They will move their forces (whatever is remaining) onto the Finland-Russia borders and threatens Western Europe with nuclear arsenals once again. However, fighting with Ukraine AND Finland will be a disaster waiting for Russia. No nation has successfully fought and won two wars simultaneously. Finnish people also aren’t as pro-Russia as many Ukrainians (especially in the eastern region), meaning the war with Finland will be much more difficult than in Ukraine.

Putin has lots of thoughts but few cards left. He cannot fold right now, he has taken this war too far, and folding now would collapse his country. He’s on the hot seat. We’re sure to hear from the Kremlin in the next few days about what Russia will do if Finland continues to flirt with NATO, but Putin’s threats are no longer as deadly as it sounds.