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A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

author:Oriental Today

According to Xinhua News Agency, on April 4, local time, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization held a ceremony for Finland to join NATO at its headquarters in Brussels, and Finland became the 31st member of NATO. Finnish President Niinistö said at the accession ceremony that Finland's accession to NATO marked the end of the country's era of military nonalignment.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Finnish President Niinistö (left) and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (right) Source: Xinhua News Agency

Neutral countries become "frontlines"

Finland and Sweden, known as "permanently neutral countries," have long pursued a policy of military nonalignment, and since the end of the Cold War, NATO, led by the United States, has repeatedly tried to bring Finland and Sweden into the alliance. In January 2022, Finland's prime minister also made it clear in an interview that Finland was "highly unlikely to join NATO" during her tenure.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Source: CCTV News

On February 24, 2022, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict officially broke out, and NATO once again extended an invitation to Finland. Who expected that the Finnish Prime Minister's flag would stand firm and fall quickly, and in May of the same year, Finland and Sweden officially submitted their applications to join NATO. It took less than a year from application to formal accession, and it is no wonder that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the ceremony that this was the fastest accession process in NATO's history.

Finland's accession to the treaty means that NATO has expanded eastward to the limit, directly reaching Russia's doorstep. Finland and Russia share a long land border, with a border of 1,340 kilometers. As early as last year, when Finland planned to apply for accession, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova warned that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, it will not help strengthen their own security, and they will automatically be on the "front line of NATO".

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Source: CCTV News

In an interesting detail, the Finnish presidential office issued a statement stating that Finland's accession to NATO is not aimed at any third party. But as we all know, the very existence of NATO is aimed at third parties, which of course refers to Russia. So how can Finland, as a member of NATO, not target third parties?

Russia's geostrategic environment has deteriorated

Finland's position is crucial for the security of northwestern Russia. In addition to the territorial border between the two countries, St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, is only 170 kilometers from the Russian-Finnish border. Finland borders Russia's Kola Peninsula, an area that is home to Russia's Northern Fleet, which Russia considers a "strategic fortress" vital to Russia's national security.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

In addition, Finland and Estonia, two NATO members, are like two gates in the Gulf of Finland, which means that it will be more difficult for Russia to enter and exit the Baltic Sea through the Gulf of Finland in the future. Imagine if two gates were closed in wartime, Russia's isolated overseas enclave, Kaliningrad on the Baltic coast, would be further cut and isolated.

On the day Finland joined the treaty, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Northern Europe was once one of the most stable regions in the world. With Finland's accession to NATO, the situation in the region has changed radically, and Finland's accession to the treaty has had a negative impact on Russian-Finnish relations. Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on the same day that NATO's expansion is a damage to Russia's security and interests. The Russian side will take countermeasures to ensure its own security tactically and strategically.

Leave Sweden alone to join the treaty

Finland and Sweden originally planned to enter the treaty "hand in hand" at the same time, why did they leave Sweden themselves first? According to the protocol, NATO can only admit new members with the "unanimous consent" of its 30 members. At present, Turkey and Hungary have not officially ratified Sweden's accession.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Swedish and Finnish tanks participate in joint military exercises Source: Reuters

On the issue of Sweden's accession to the treaty, despite the continuous pressure of the United States to speed up the process, the Turkish foreign minister pointed out that combating terrorism is an important condition for Sweden to join NATO, which is equivalent to Turkey imposing the final condition on Sweden, that is, it must submit to Turkey's political arrangements on the Kurdish issue.

According to Spain's daily newspaper, thousands of people allegedly linked to PKK guerrillas are in exile in Europe, many of them in Sweden. Turkey has in the past referred to Sweden as a "lair of terrorists." In June 2022, Sweden, Finland and Turkey announced a trilateral agreement in which Sweden and Finland pledged to "resolutely combat terrorism and further strengthen legislation to that end." According to Turkey, Sweden has not fulfilled its commitments, especially in terms of banning the activities of PKK supporters.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

In 1917, Finland became independent and declared permanently neutral. How long exactly is this "permanent"? But in a hurry for a hundred years. The final chapter of Finland's accession has come to an end, and the country of the legendary "home of Santa Claus" has shed its fairy tale color and stood on the front line of the "cruel game".

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

US President Joe Biden @POTUS:

Finland, welcome to NATO.

Today is a historic day. Your joining our alliance will make us stronger than ever.

I also look forward to welcoming Sweden as a NATO ally as soon as possible.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Twitter netizens @harryd20200:

Putin, the best salesman of NATO.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Twitter users @REVMAXXING:

Finland was once a partner of Nazi Germany, so it does not surprise me that they joined NATO.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Twitter users @yamabushi1701:

Oh, dear Finland, you stupid people. You signed a peace treaty with Russia, you remained neutral, there was trade between you, and now you throw them away, what do you have? 1,200 km of borders, but also to defend against the world's most powerful nuclear arsenal and 25,000 troops...

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Twitter users @zei_squirrel:

Jeffrey Sachs, speaking about NATO's expansion into Finland, said: "It would be extremely reckless and provocative. On the other side of the world, a small island drafted a security agreement with China, and the United States is hoarse about it: How dare you sign it, it's a threat. This is how America feels realistically. ”

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Twitter users @exeit:

This action doubles the chances of a conflict [between NATO and Russia in the future].

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Twitter users @01_kabul:

In the competition between the United States and Russia, under the NATO treaty, the EU will pay an unbearable price and face a huge economic crisis. Perhaps in the weeks following the French president's visit to China, France somewhat rejected some U.S. instructions. The EU must now step back.

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Twitter users @tony_bridges_el:

I'm just curious how this flag was added? Did they install a new flagpole? Do they still have a flagstaff hole ready for future expansion?

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"
A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Weibo netizen @orange beetle:

Some countries have long been secretly on the list, such as Japan, Finland and Sweden, and know it.

Weibo netizen @Guanyu big nerve talk book:

The term "permanently neutral" is considered obsolete and can not be neutral at any time.

Weibo netizen @ Leaves left:

How many people can make their own decisions? It's just about surviving in the cracks.

Weibo netizen @leftovers are Wang Xiaohuahua:

Finland still abandoned Sweden, what brotherhood there is.

Station B netizens @辰星辊:

NATO image ambassador - Putin

Director of European Regional Sales of US Imperial Weapons - Putin

Outstanding contributor to European integration - Putin

Station B netizens @ favorite kaka:

Director of NATO Admissions - Putin!

A historic day! Finland, the "permanently neutral country", has chosen to be at the forefront of the "brutal game"

Permanent neutralized state

permanent / ˈpɜːrmənənt / permanent, eternal, e.g. permanent resident Permanent resident.

neutralized / ˈnuːtrəlaɪzd / neutralized, neutralized, e.g. neutralized paper.

例句:Switzerland seems to be a permanently neutral state.

Switzerland seems to be a permanently neutral country.

Comprehensive: CCTV news, Xinhua News Agency, reference news and other reports

Editor-in-charge of this issue: Niu Jiaona

Compiler: Chen Xiaoyu, Niu Jiaona

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