Finnish expert on the reaction of the Russian president to the promotion of Finland's accession to NATO: "Now Putin is playing the role of a "good policeman""
The Russian president decided to play the role of a "good policeman" in the question of Finland's accession to NATO, a Finnish expert said in an interview with Yle. He noted that the object of Putin's criticism has changed: previously it was membership in the Alliance, and now it is the deployment of its military infrastructure in Sweden and Finland.
Olli-Pekka Toivanen
On June 28, the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance decided to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto says that the protocol on accession will be signed no later than July 5.
"After the protocol is drawn up, Finland and Sweden will become NATO observer members," Tuomas Forsberg, head of the research college of the University of Helsinki Yle, said in a morning broadcast.
"At the (NATO) meetings, we will work even closer than before. Cooperation with the military will also become tighter as we move towards joining NATO, whenever that happens," Forsberg said.
Finland and Sweden's membership in the alliance must be ratified by all 30 NATO member countries. According to Forsberg, at an accelerated pace, this process will take several months.
"Some countries ratify membership very quickly, but there is always that last country. Often this story stretches for a year."
NATO: the main threats are Russia and terrorism
According to the concept published by NATO members, Russia and terrorism were recognized as the main threats to the security of the alliance members. Deterrence, defense, crisis prevention and security cooperation were identified as the most important tasks of NATO.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference before the summit that NATO will increase the number of its rapid reaction forces to more than 300 thousand people.
Forsberg recalls that the strategic concept is a regulatory document that is updated approximately once every ten years.
"Often during this time, the situation has already managed to completely change. In practice, NATO acts according to the situation, and the strategic concept does not limit the alliance's operations in the long term," Forsberg emphasizes.
The strengthening of the rapid reaction forces, in his opinion, suggests that NATO wants to improve deterrence skills in its eastern territories and hone skills in transferring troops to where they may be needed.
"Now NATO does not consider this issue acute, and it will not be possible to increase these forces instantly. This is a long-term issue."
"Now Putin is playing the role of a 'good cop'"
According to the Finnish news agency STT, on June 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the membership of Finland and Sweden in NATO is not a problem for Russia, and in general it is a matter of domestic policy of the countries.
At the same time, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Russia is strengthening its borders and may, for example, place missile launchers "on the threshold of countries" if Finland and Sweden join NATO.
Forsberg notes that the object of Putin's criticism is beginning to change: if earlier it was membership in NATO, now it is the deployment of the alliance's military infrastructure in Sweden and Finland. Russia has had two lines for comments to NATO countries before.
"Now Putin is playing the role of a "good cop," and Medvedev is playing the role of a "bad cop," although everyone used to perceive them somewhat differently."