DISINFO: Finland's President surrendered the country to NATO slavery
SUMMARY
Sauli Niinistö surrendered the country to NATO slavery, destroyed economic ties with the Russian Federation, which increased unemployment and a drop in income in the border areas of Finland.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative attacking Finland’s NATO membership.
This disinformation narrative deliberately ignores the real reason for Finland’s NATO membership, which is a direct reaction to Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's unprovoked attack led to a massive shift in public opinion towards the Atlantic Alliance in Finland. While before the invasion, only 24 percent of Finns expressed support for joining NATO, this figure jumped to 74 percent shortly afterward, and it reached 85 percent at the moment of its actual entrance. A similar trend took place in Sweden for the same reasons.
Finland and Sweden’s membership became a necessity because Russia violated the European security architecture. Russia has executed multiple aggressions against neighbouring countries, including the illegal annexation of Crimea, the promotion of separatist conflicts in Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, and multiple destabilisation attempts against Moldova and Georgia.
In addition, Russian provocations demonstrate ill intent. A Russian Mi-17 helicopter reportedly violated Finnish airspace in May 2022. In April 2022 Finnish authorities accused a Russian IL-96-300 of violating the country’s airspace in the Gulf of Finland.
Before Finland decided to join NATO, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, sanctions imposed on Russia, and Russia's self-imposed import embargo already affected the trade relationship between Finland and Russia.
Finally to address the claims about Finland's economy, back in 2021, Russia was only in the fifth position among Finland's largest trade partners after Germany, Sweden, the United States, and the Netherlands. At that time, Russia comprised only 5.3 percent of Finland’s total exports, and since then, both exports and imports have declined significantly. However, it's important to note that Finland's economy was growing in 2022 and is not showing any signs of 'crumbling.' You can read the economic forecast for Finland here.
Read other cases about Finland such as: Finland’s NATO membership aims to corner Russia, Irrational decision to join NATO will bring down the Finnish economy, Finland is trying to start a world war by joining NATO, Finland has been dragged into a new Barbarossa operation against Russia.