The new Year’s proclamation of President Sauli Niinisto caused a wave of speculations on the possibility of full integration of Finland with NATO. “There is no room for influence zones in our times” – said the president. “The interest of Finland is to have the possibility to apply for the membership in NATO if we decide on it on our own” he added.

The issue is widely commented on by the Finish media. Main Finish magazines “Helsingin Sanomat” or “Ilta-Sanomat” are consentaneous; possible Russian actions against Ukraine will accelerate the process of integration with the Alliance. There has been an ongoing debate on it in Finland. Formally, the Parliament will decide on the membership. It may happen in spring2023 as the liberal – conservative party (National Coalition, KOK) being a political base of the president. It is a group that openly supports joining the Pact. However, only 1/4 of the Finns is for changing the military status of the country.

The likely aggression of Russia against Ukraine could lead to fast path of integration with NATO. Both countries cooperate with the Alliance and it would be a matter of technical formality. However, it is a big challenge for the Finns. The Finnish border with Ukraine is more than 1000 km So far, both countries have had proper relations but since the Russian aggression against the Crimea in 2014, full membership in NATO has seemed to be a more real option.

NATO is not the only path for integration with Finland. Joining the Adriatic, Black and Baltic Seas through the Three Seas Initiative is very important for Finland and Nordic countries – said the chief of the Finnish diplomacy Pekka Haavisto during the conference with the heads of ministries of foreign affairs of Estonia, Latvia and Poland in the Estonian Tartu.

He reminded that Finland and Estonia are developing a series of projects including infrastructural ones, such as the Balticonnector gas pipe or a plan of construction of the railway tunnel between Helsinki and Tallin, as well as projects concerning digitalisation. The head of Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is the host of the Three Seas Initiative summit (planned for June in Tallin) admitted that his country is willing to accept a concrete participation of Finland in the Initiative, as well as the exchange of information and ideas with this country. (source: trimarium.pl)