Finland Asserts Its Role in NATO Amid Russia's Military Posture
Russia does not represent a significant military threat to Finland, and it is unlikely that Russia would challenge Article 5 of the NATO Washington Treaty, which requires members to defend each other collectively, said the new commander of the Finnish armed forces, Gen. Janne Jaakkola, on Thursday.
12:53 PM EDT, April 4, 2024
Thursday marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North Atlantic Alliance and one year since Finland joined the organization.
Gen. Jaakkola assumed his role in early April and explained that Russia aims to "secure the best possible military position in Ukraine to gain superior negotiating power at the political level," especially in light of the US presidential elections.
On the anniversary of Finland joining NATO, President Alexander Stubb announced that Finland "is distinguishing its own identity within the Alliance."
- We're not a small player, but a medium-sized member state - he highlighted, pointing out Finland's strategic location at the edge of Europe. Stubb also underscored Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which mandates countries to enhance their national defense capabilities.
Finland in NATO
The first year as a member, as noted by radio Yle, was largely a period of anticipation for Sweden's official NATO membership on March 7, 2024, a crucial ally for executing defense strategies in Scandinavia. Finland has been recognized as a member that "prioritizes safeguarding its interests," especially in defending its extensive territory that borders Russia.
Moreover, Finland has consistently backed Ukraine, steadily providing military aid. A significant step in this support was the security pact signed in Kyiv on Wednesday, which ensures military and financial assistance to Ukraine at least until 2029.
