Mika Aaltola: Finland will probably become a NATO member within four monthsFinland may become a member of NATO in the spring of next year, writes Aamulehti.
She was prompted to do this by the "geopolitical threat" from Russia. But to join the alliance, you first need to enlist the support of Turkey and Hungary.
Alexandra Kunnas"The only geopolitical threat to Finland is Russia," Mika Aaltola said.
On the eighth of October, the Director of the Finnish Foreign Policy Institute spoke at the "Full Security" event in Tampere, Finland.
According to Mika Aaltola, Finland can become a member of NATO no later than in four months. On the eighth of October, the Director of the Institute of Foreign Policy of Finland spoke at the event "Full Security" in Tampere, Finland.
Mika Aaltola stressed that as a NATO member Finland should master a new language of cooperation, the main idea of which is "one for all and all for one".
"The only geopolitical threat to Finland is Russia," Mika Aaltola said.
As part of his lecture, Aaltola also considered such topics as "Finland-Russia relations", "Finland as a NATO member" and "the nuclear threat from Russia, which is aimed at causing fear in the West."
How will Finland move forward on the issue of joining NATO?
According to Aaltol, Finland's progress in joining NATO now depends on Turkey and Hungary. Hungary will probably act in accordance with what Turkey says and ratify Finland's membership in NATO before Turkey.
"Hungary is an EU country. EU countries should not be an obstacle for other EU countries to submit applications to NATO. However, Hungary has a new foreign policy, they see Turkey as an important ally and are waiting for a signal from Turkey," commented Aaltola on what is happening.
After Turkey's decision, Finland itself will hold a second vote on membership in the alliance, after which the country will officially become a member of NATO. "Finland will probably become a member of NATO within four months. Finland will become a full member of the North Atlantic Alliance. We will have the right to have Finland protected, as well as responsibilities, that is, we will have to protect others. The border between NATO and Russia will be 2,600 kilometers. After Finland joins NATO, its violation will be directed against all member countries," said Aaltola.
According to Aaltol, the Baltic Sea region is important for Finland's membership in NATO. "There is no need to think about which region we belong to — the Nordic countries or the Baltic Sea region, because the Baltic Sea is a unifying factor in this situation. Finland gets an advantageous position for the development of the Arctic direction of NATO. Western countries in the Baltic Sea region have more resources than Russia," the expert said.
