Finland and Sweden have decided to enhance their “information-sharing” with NATO in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as they defy Moscow’s demands that the Nordic states keep the trans-Atlantic alliance at arm’s length.
“In response to Russia’s aggression, we have decided to strengthen our coordination and information sharing with Finland and Sweden,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Friday. “Both countries are now taking part in all NATO consultations about the crisis.”
Russia launched a military offensive to overthrow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming that the attack was a necessary effort to veto Ukraine’s long-stalled pursuit of full membership in the trans-Atlantic alliance. The United States and other NATO leaders warned Russia that such an assault would backfire by making NATO more attractive to Russia’s neighbors, a phenomenon dramatized by a high-profile visit to Washington by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.
“An insightful breakfast meeting with CIA Director William Burns, who has a remarkable experience in diplomacy and negotiations with Russia,” Niinisto wrote on Twitter, where he posted a photo of himself with the American spy chief.
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President Joe Biden emphasized that he and Niinisto were meeting to discuss “the latest developments regarding Russia’s war on Ukraine and how to strengthen European security.”
Their dialogue precedes a “working visit” next week by Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen, who plans to tour a Lockheed Martin plant while learning about the F-35 stealth fighter jets that Finland has agreed to purchase from the American defense manufacturer. Finland, which borders Russia and fought a bloody Winter War against the Soviet Union in 1939, has agreed to purchase 64 of the cutting-edge stealth fighter jets.
“The F-35 will provide Finnish industries unique digital capabilities that leverage 5th generation engineering and manufacturing,” Lockheed Martin’s Bridget Lauderdale said when the deal was announced in December. “The production work will continue for more than 20 years, and the F-35 sustainment work will continue into the 2070s.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s team threatened Finland with “serious military and political repercussions” for any prospective move to join NATO, but Finnish leaders have maintained that Moscow cannot be allowed to veto their alliance choices — while also cautioning against any imprudent shift in their traditional foreign policy.
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“Our security environment is now undergoing rapid and extreme change,” Niinisto said Thursday after a meeting with Finnish legislators. “I fully understand the concern felt by Finns and the need to react to the situation. In the midst of an acute crisis, however, it is particularly important to keep a cool head and to assess with care the impact of past and possible future changes on our security — not hesitating, but with care.”
