In April 2024, Finland celebrated its first year as a full member of NATO. This was a big deal for the alliance and a big change for Finland’s national security policy. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland gave up its long-held position of not joining any armed alliance. This is what caused the change. This piece talks about Finland’s decision to join NATO, the problems it faced, and the strategic effects of joining NATO on Finland.
Getting into NATO too quickly
In May 2022, Finland and Sweden put in applications to join NATO. The public’s support for this was rising because of what Russia was doing in Ukraine. Finland officially joined NATO as the 31st country in April 2023, less than a year after the attack. This quick change from being neutral to being a leader in NATO shows Finland’s strategy shift to protect regional security.
Main Problems and Ways to Fix Them
Events related to security
In its first year as a NATO member, Finland has had a lot of major security problems. Two underwater telephone lines and the Balticconnector pipeline were damaged by a Chinese-owned ship in one event that stands out. The Wilson Center and RAND found that the region’s stronger security steps were not completely foolproof. This event also showed how vulnerable underwater infrastructure is.
Also, more people came to Finland through its border with Russia, which the Russian government is said to have supported. This plan makes me think of the refugee problem between Belarus and the EU in 2021, when they were used as political leverage. Because things are getting worse between Finland and Russia, all but one of its railway border crossings with Russia have been stopped (Wilson Center; RAND).
Changes in the House and in politics
Things have changed a lot in Finland’s internal politics. With Alexander Stubb’s election as president, a new era in Finnish politics has started. He will take over from Sauli Niinistö, who has been in charge for a long time. Stubb is known for supporting NATO. He will have to find a way to keep people supporting NATO’s nuclear deterrent measures (RAND) while also arranging Finland’s new role in the alliance (Defense.gov).
Increasing NATO’s Strengths by Making Strategic Contributions and Integrating Military Forces
Finland quickly became an important member of NATO because of its strong military and training in the Arctic. The country has one of the best wartime powers in the alliance, with 280,000 troops and a large defense budget that meets NATO’s 2% GDP spending limit. According to the Wilson Center, Finland’s military readiness and strength are important for NATO’s eastern and northern edges.
Working together and doing workouts together
Over the past year, Finland has shown its commitment to the alliance by taking part in a number of NATO operations and drills. The US, Norway, Sweden, and the UK have all taken part in cyber defense training drills. The Steadfast Defender series is also happening, which is NATO’s biggest military exercise in decades. These joint efforts (Wilson Center; Defense.gov) bring attention to Finland’s membership in NATO’s strategy framework and its role in boosting overall safety.
What the future holds and how it should be planned for
What the public thinks about nuclear policy
One of the most controversial issues Finland has to deal with in its new NATO role is its nuclear strategy. At this time, Finland does not allow the production, transfer, or stationing of nuclear weapons. But President Stubb’s administration should think about becoming more like NATO’s nuclear defense strategies. This could require public debate and changes to the law (RAND) (Defense.gov).
Eighty-nine percent of Finns want to join NATO, which shows that a lot of people back the group. There is still a lot of anger about nuclear weapons, though, and many people don’t want them in Finland. Finland’s leaders will have to figure out how to handle this problem while also taking into account public opinion and the country’s security needs (RAND).
For the most part, Finland has changed and adapted a lot in its first year in NATO. The country has successfully become part of the alliance, which has improved NATO’s ability to provide collective defense and increased safety in the area. As Finland learns how to handle the difficulties of its new role, its strategic alliance with NATO is likely to grow stronger. This will provide more security and stability in a world where threats are always changing.