Finland will join to NATO and Sweden follows (same timeschedule)

[Finnish Swede]

Just to came update situation on this. Things have moved very quickly in last weeks and even last days...


Now it is ''clear''. Finland will gonna apply NATO membership.

Poles have shown all the time rising support (among of citizens) for NATO ... (just some 24% - 27% last 20 years time until end of 2021), (55% February -22), (62% March -22), (75% April -22).


Today was historical day (12th of May) as both president and PM said also to support NATO membership for Finland.

Finland's parliament will still officially vote about NATO membership next Monday 10 a' clock. More than 2/3 parliament members are still supporting NATO membership (probably even more ... just 10 - 12 of 200 might vote against it) so this will be clear now.


President and PM asked/hoped quick handling in process. I assume Finland's application will be given to NATO next week. Perhaps already Tue or We.


Finland's president talked very straight as media asked from him what Russia (Putin) might think all this. He answered to look on the mirror. ''You (Russia) caused on this''. He meant that Finland's plan has been to stay neutral (but also keep the all options open and in hands of Finland) but that changed December 2021 - February 2022.


Before Russia attacked to Ukraine, I said that real war might have influences which Russians have not calculated beforehand (or believed). The first one has been how much West has been willing to support Ukraine and the second will be this. I doubt Russians believed that Finland would have ''courage, balls or time'' to really do this no matter of war in Ukraine. Russians thought that Ukraine war would take some days or just 2 weeks.


Sweden has basically followed (but very closely) how; little brother; Finland will act. Right now (after today's media press in Finland) Sweden's media are writing that Sweden will walk in the same time schedule as Finland. So it looks like that Sweden will leave NATO application also in the next week.

Sweden's King has invited Finland's president to Sweden 17th and 18th of May. I assume that time both countries have already left their applications.



Lets put little bit Top Gun music:







PS: One thing which many might not know here ... after WWII more than half of Finland's citizens supported country's NATO membership, but Sovjet Union scared Finland's leading politicians to walk over minds of their own people. Second time same did not happen.

[Aila]

[stemm99]

Good

[sean]

Strange how history repeats itself.

[lei.talk]

the russian invasion lost momentum
on the low-quality roads
from the ukrainian border to the interior cities.

are there high-quality highways
leading from russia in to finland and sweden?

how plausible is invasion from the sea?

or naval bombardment of the cities?

[Finnish Swede]

Good

If you live in Latvia, Lithuania I think this was good (hoped) news for you? And if you live in Estonia even like Santa Claus would come to visit on May.

Alone with fighters, now there will be 140 Saab Gripen E fighters and 65 F-35's more to protect areas of Riga, Tallin ... just in few minutes.

[Finnish Swede]

the russians invasion lost momentum
on the low-quality roads
from the ukrainian border to the interior cities.

are there high-quality highways
leading from russia in to finland and sweden?

how plausible is invasion from the sea?

or naval bombardment of the cities?

Finland's eastern border is not most easiest areas to move/attack (for land forces). It is much worse than Ukraine or something in flat part of central Europe. There are lots of lakes, swamps, rivers etc. Of course there are few roads to cross the border but generally speaking difficult.

And even as that border is long south to north (with Russia, longest in Europe more than 1100km) .... I might keep sea are even more critical for Finland. Just as Finland is connected to West via sea, and via sea only. And here we have one another ''difficult'' place, Åland island. Åland island has been demilitarized area since end of 19th century via international agreement. Of course while WWI and WWII ''big boys'' walked over that agreement but those agreements are still valid. Or Finland (whose responsibility is to protect Åland) can not re-sign those agreements alone. So Åland will gonna play some role in Baltic sea area next coming years/decades. Åland is actually even closer to Stockholm than Finland so the defense of islands interests Sweden too. If the war will start, it is basically a question who will get there first, Russians or Finns/Swedes.

[catgeorge]

Welcome to the New World Order and be an obedient subject

[Finnish Swede]

Welcome to the New World Order and be an obedient subject

Do not start a war against Turkey or we will not know whose side we should fight.

[Russki]

I'm neutral-positive to Finland joining, but I hope Sweden will not.