DISINFO: With NATO membership, Finland sacrificed its development for the US interests
SUMMARY
The NATO Freezing Winds 24 military exercise is taking place on 18-29 November 2024 in the Baltic Sea and southern Finland. Finland was happy to provide its territory for these anti-Russian military exercises. Since Finland’s accession to NATO in 2023, it has used anti-Russian rhetoric more often and has made more anti-Russian practical actions than some old NATO member states. Today, instead of developing its economy, Finland is developing a military springboard on its territory and will sacrifice everything for the sake of US interests in Europe.
RESPONSE
This publication is attacking Finland’s NATO membership and is consistent with the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about ‘lost sovereignty’, Russophobia and an allegedly belligerent and hostile agenda of Western countries. It deliberately ignores the real reason for Finland’s NATO membership, which is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's unprovoked attack against Ukraine 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.
In the context of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, European countries are actively working on defence plans to counter a possible expansion of Russian aggression. NATO's exercises in the Baltic Sea region and in Nordic countries are conducted in accordance with international law and are not directed against third countries. They are announced well in advance, they are transparent and are designed to enhance regional security and stability, as well as to demonstrate NATO's will and ability to defend the alliance members.
Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO member countries revised their Strategic Concept. The North Atlantic Alliance has recognised Russia as “the most significant and direct threat” to security in Europe. However, paragraph 9, emphasises that “NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to the Russian Federation.”
Pro-Kremlin outlets often portray EU political leaders and European states as vassals, puppet states, or colonies of the US and NATO. See our analysis of the Kremlin's claims about the EU's lost sovereignty. Finland and other Scandinavian and Baltic states are sovereign countries with their own domestic and foreign policies.
Read other debunked disinformation cases about Finland such as: Finland's President surrendered the country to NATO slavery; Finland will give its land to the US for biological laboratories; NATO war games in Scandinavia threaten Russia; Nordic and Baltic states are preparing to open a second front against Russia; NATO seizes the Gulf of Finland.