By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
Three months after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Finland asked to join NATO.
Now, a little more than a year after Finland became the 31st member of the alliance, the Finnish defense minister says his country will make NATO stronger and will continue to support Ukraine’s defense.
Antti Hakkanen was welcomed to the Pentagon Tuesday by Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. Austin told Hakkanen he was “grateful for Finland’s determination to tackle regional and global security challenges. Finland has stood strong with Ukraine as it continues to fight back against Putin’s unprovoked aggression.”
Finland’s decision to join NATO was seen as a setback for Vladimir Putin. Before Finland (and later Sweden) were added to the alliance, the Russian leader had complained of NATO’s expansion. After Russia invaded Ukraine, public opinion in Finland rose to 80 percent in favor of joining NATO.
Since the invasion, Finland has given Ukraine more than $2 billion in security assistance.
Finland spends 2.3 percent of its GDP on defense. That’s a higher percentage than NATO’s two percent goal for its member nations. Plus, of Finland’s 5.5 million citizens, almost one million have received military training.
Hakkanen told the audience at the Pentagon, “Europe needs (a) strong United States, but in the era of strategic competition, the United States also needs that strong Europe. We can build a dynamic relationship based on trade, technology and security.”
Earlier this week, Finland and the UK signed a partnership agreement declaring that Russia was the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability.
Still, Finland is no hurry to host NATO forces – a move that might require amending the country’s constitution. For now, the Finnish military is focusing on aligning with the alliance’s command structure.
