One of Russia's neighbors may join NATO 'at any time'

[Hindustani78]

Neutral Finland, Russia's Neighbor, Reserves Right To Join NATO As New Government Takes Power
May 26, 2015

Finland’s Finland’s new Prime Minister will appoint a government cabinet this week, which may take the neutral Nordic country, Russia’s neighbor, in a new direction: towards NATO. In a recent policy statement, the new center-right coalition government said that the country may join NATO “at any time” over the next four years, shifting dramatically from its traditional neutral stance.

The move, which comes just a week after 900,000 Finnish reservists were sent letters to ensure they could be quickly contacted in the event of war, will likely surprise onlookers in Moscow who believed that the inclusion of the nationalist party and anti-NATO Finns Party in the new three-member coalition would see interest in joining the alliance waver.

"The previous government made sure that it did not apply for NATO membership during its time in office,” said Teija Tiilikainen, the director of the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, speaking to Defense News.

“The new government's policy is different, it keeps the issue alive and the option open. It will be interesting to see how all this develops.”

Four years ago, when Finland’s previous government came to power, NATO membership was deliberately ruled out. Even two years ago, the subject was seldom discussed as a serious or necessary option for Finland. However. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014, the Kremlin’s continued involvement in the Ukraine war, and increased military activity in international waters and air space around Europe has seen public opinion shift.

A poll taken in September 2014 by Finnish-based pollster YLE showed that 43 percent of the Finnish public perceived Russia as a danger, up by 20 percentage points from March, when Russia annexed Crimea.

"All recent polls show that Finns are becoming increasingly concerned about Russian aggression in the region and want a stronger defense," said Kari Sundström, a Stockholm, Sweden-based political analyst. "Finns also want a higher level of spending for the military. Although majority backing for NATO membership is still lacking, over 55 percent of Finns support the holding of a referendum to decide the issue.”

Finland’s neighbor to the west, Sweden, announced Tuesday that it is ready to defend against any Russian aggression. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Leuven said that the Scandinavian country has “a plan of action” and “a possible solution in the case of Russian provocations in the air.”

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Finland abandoned its neutrality and plans to join NATO due to Putin's policy of invading neighboring countries and threatening peace in Europe. It is about time other neutral countries in Europe stand up to the new Hitler which threatens war in Europe.

 

[pher]

so they want to act like turks to serve as a human shield of nato for russia's first wave attack, good luck for them.

 

[Superboy]

Best of luck. NATO is a terrific organization.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

so they want to act like turks to serve as a human shield of nato for russia's first wave attack, good luck for them.

No, if Russia invades them right now nobody is obligated to help them.
This would be very bad for Russia. NATO would be less than 75 miles from Mumansk and 100 miles from St. Petersburg and Russia's Baltic Sea fleet would be exposed on both sides.
Just flying NATO bombers with Finland's eastern border would be enough to give Putin a heart attack.

NATO in blue

Now add Finland..oh boy!

I think they are spooked by Svalbard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Norway) being on Putin's arctic military buildup radar,

The more Putin spooks his neighbors the more they will join hands.

A familiar story with some of China's neighbors.

Just push everybody to the U.S. and then cry vassal.

 

[pher]

No, if Russia invades them right now nobody is obligated to help them.
This would be very bad for Russia. NATO would be less than 75 miles from Mumansk and 100 miles from St. Petersburg and Russia's Baltic Sea fleet would be exposed on both sides.
Just flying NATO bombers with Finland's eastern border would be enough to give Putin a heart attack.

View attachment 225080
NATO in blue

View attachment 225083
Now add Finland..oh boy!

I think they are spooked by Svalbard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Norway) being on Putin's arctic military buildup radar,
View attachment 225089

The more Putin spooks his neighbors the more they will join hands.

A familiar story with some of China's neighbors.

Just push everybody to the U.S. and then cry vassal.

a upstart conutry like US talk about strategy? we would like to hear it when you could survive 500 years which I doubt. anyway, no matter how much lackey you recruit, doesn't matter. Isn't china + russia enough for you?

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

a upstart conutry like US talk about strategy? we would like to hear it when you could survive 500 years which I doubt. anyway, no matter how much lackey you recruit, doesn't matter. Isn't china + russia enough for you?

LOL! You would probably be speaking Japanese right now and be only partial Han if it wasn't for us. That's what your strategy would have given you.

 

[pher]

LOL! You could be speaking Japanese right now and be only partial Han if it wasn't for us.

what kind of delusion this is? did US send anyone fighting in China? you fight japs cause you got butched by them in the first place. or I shuld say if not for China to drag 2/3 of japs' troops, they may already rule US.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

what kind of delusion this is? did US send anyone fighting in China? you fight japs cause you got butched by them in the first place. or I shuld say if not for China to drag 2/3 of japs' troops, they may already rule US.

Oh please the Japanese had no intention of invading North America.
They didn't have sufficient blue water transports to get a substantial invasion force over here.

 

[KAL-EL]

what kind of delusion this is? did US send anyone fighting in China? you fight japs cause you got butched by them in the first place. or I shuld say if not for China to drag 2/3 of japs' troops, they may already rule US.

You're correct, the US had nothing to do with Japan losing and surrendering. Thank you China for coming to the aid of a very poor defenseless US.

PS. I wasn't aware the USS Missouri was a Chinese ship. Can you confirm please?

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

You're correct, the US had nothing to do with Japan losing and surrendering. Thank you China for coming to the aid of a very poor defenseless US.

PS. I wasn't aware the USS Missouri was a Chinese ship. Can you confirm please?

They were lucky to have been invited.

 

[Penguin]

so they want to act like turks to serve as a human shield of nato for russia's first wave attack, good luck for them.

Either that or the reverse. Shield either way.

what kind of delusion this is? did US send anyone fighting in China? you fight japs cause you got butched by them in the first place. or I shuld say if not for China to drag 2/3 of japs' troops, they may already rule US.

1st AVG (American Volunteer Group) a.k.a. the Flying Tigers? US volunteers of the "Flying Tigers” became renowned for their combat missions in support of Chinese Nationalist forces.

1st AVG (Flying Tigers)

A-20G of the United States Army Air Forces

The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft

Main article: Flying Tigers

The 1st American Volunteer Group were recruited starting on 15 April 1941, when an unpublished executive order was signed by President Roosevelt.[2]A total of 100 P-40Bs were obtained from Curtiss-Wright by convincing the British Government to take a later batch of more advanced P-40s in exchange.[2] The group assembled at RAF Mingaladon in Burma by November 1941 for training, where it was organized into three squadrons and established a headquarters.[3] The Flying Tigers did not go into combat until after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.[2] Under Chennault's command, the Flying Tigers became famous in the defense of Burma and China.[2] It was disbanded and replaced by the United States Army Air Forces' 23rd Fighter Group in July 1942, with only five of its pilots choosing to continue with the AAF.[4]

2nd AVG[edit]
In the fall of 1941, the 2nd American Volunteer Group was equipped with 33 Lockheed Hudson (A-28) and 33 Douglas DB-7 (A-20) bombers originally built for Britain but acquired by the U.S. Army as part of the Lend-Lease program passed earlier in the year. The Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company, fronting for the Chinese and American governments, recruited 82 pilots and 359 ground crewmen from the U.S. Army in the fall of 1941, and an undetermined number, including one pilot, actually sailed for Asia aboard Noordam and Bloemfontein of the Java-Pacific line. Other pilots reported to San Francisco, and were scheduled to depart aboard the Lockheed Hudsons on 10 December. The Douglas DB-7s, meanwhile, were to have gone by freighter to Africa, where they would be assembled and ferried to China, but the attack on Pearl Harbor caused the program to be aborted. The vessels at sea were diverted to Australia, the aircraft were taken back into American service, and most or all of the personnel likewise rejoined the military, either in Australia or in the U.S.

3rd AVG[edit]
The 3rd AVG was to have been a fighter group like the 1st. Because the 2nd AVG had been recruited from the U.S. Army, recruiting for the 3rd was to have been limited to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, starting in the early months of 1942. These plans too were abandoned as a result of the U.S. entry into World War II.

American Volunteer Group - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Flying Tigers did not go into action until after Pearl Harbor. Their operations were legendary, but could not precent the Japanese from seizing Burma from the British. This cut off China from Allied assistance.

The only exception was supplies which could be flown in over The Hump (The Himilayas) from India. This consisted primarily of supplies to support American air operations in China. American entry into the war, however, meant that Japan could no longer focus its military operations on China.

 

[Steve781]

Finns are badass. They don't need NATO.

 

[Hindustani78]

Defending Finland is not our direct obligation – Minister of Defence - EN.DELFI
Thursday, August 27, 2015

Minister of National Defence, Juozas Olekas, says that Lithuania and NATO are not directly obligated to defend Finland in case it is attacked, yet he is sure the Alliance would likely find ways how to help.

Minister of National Defence, Juozas Olekas, says that Lithuania and NATO are not directly obligated to defend Finland in case it is attacked, yet he is sure the Alliance would likely find ways how to help. Finish soldier at BALTOPS exercise Finish soldier at BALTOPS exercise © AP/Scanpix "I believe we would attempt to assist Finland in some way if it was needed. However, it is not our direct defensive obligation," Olekas told radio Žinių Radijas, on August 27.

The president of Finland said this week that Helsinki would not be able to defend the Baltic States in case of an armed conflict because it has a long border with Russia and has to care for its own security.

Meanwhile Olekas stated that every country differently understands the concern for security and chooses different defensive strategies.

Although Finland is not a NATO member, yet it participates in the Partnership for Peace programme. It also sent its forces to the missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Lithuanian, Swedish and Finnish armed forces have cooperation experience in the European Union's battlegroups - around 40 Lithuanian soldiers were on duty in January-June in the Nordic Battlegroup.

 

[Hindustani78]

Sweden calls in Russian envoy over 'threats' about NATO entry| Reuters

Sweden calls in Russian envoy over 'threats' about NATO entry
STOCKHOLM

Sweden has called in Russia's ambassador to explain comments by a foreign ministry spokeswoman who said any Swedish decision to join NATO would have "consequences" that would compel Russia to respond.

"It is not acceptable to make threats," Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told reporters. "We are an independent country which makes independent decisions on our security policy."

Tensions have been mounting recently, with Sweden increasingly concerned by Moscow's actions in Ukraine and military activity around the Baltic region.

On Thursday a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said Sweden's admission to NATO "would have military, political and foreign policy consequences that would require indispensable response measures from the Russian side".

Sweden is not a member of NATO but is closely allied to the bloc and regularly takes part in military exercises.

The deteriorating security situation in eastern Europe has led to increasing calls for Sweden and neighbor Finland, which shares a 1,300 km (800 mile) border with Russia, to formalize their relationships with NATO.

The two Nordic countries have increased military cooperation, with each other and NATO, but public support for membership remains relatively low.

(Reporting by Johan Sennero, additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Moscow; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)