Finland To Join NATO, Moscow: Russia To Be Forced To Take Military-technical Countermeasures To Stop Threats

Ilustrasi NATO. (Wikimedia Commons U.S./Department of State)

JAKARTA - Moscow warned Finland on Thursday that it would face consequences, including technical-military as it wishes to apply for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) without delay.

Finland's plans to apply for NATO membership, announced on Thursday, and hopes that Sweden will follow suit, will lead to the expansion of the Western military alliance that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to prevent.

Abandoning the neutrality they maintained during the Cold War would be one of the biggest changes in European security in decades.

Moscow called Finland's announcement hostile and threatened retaliation, including unspecified "military technical" action.

"Helsinki must realize the responsibility and consequences of such actions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said, cited from Reuters, May 13.

This is not the first time Russia has issued a similar warning. Previously, Russian officials have spoken in the past about potential steps including the deployment of nuclear-armed missiles in the Baltic Sea.

Separately, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Finland would be "warmly welcomed" and promised a "smooth and speedy" accession process.

Meanwhile, the White House supports such a move.

"We will support NATO applications by Finland and-or Sweden if they apply," said press secretary Jen Psaki.

Finland has a 1.300 km (800 mi) long border, more than double the length of the border between the US-led alliance and Russia, putting NATO guards a few hours' drive from the northern outskirts of St Petersburg.

"Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay," Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement.

"Accession to NATO would also be a direct violation of Finland's international legal obligations, above all, the 1947 Paris Peace Agreement which stipulates the obligations of the parties not to enter trade unions or participate in coalitions directed against any of them," the Russian Foreign Foregin Affairs Ministry said, cited from TASS.

"As well as the 1992 Treaty on the Foundation of Relations between Russia and Finland which stipulates that both parties will refrain from threats of violence or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of the other, will not use or allow to use their territories for armed aggression against the other party. others. However, given the current indifference to international law by the collective West, this behavior is becoming the norm."

"We will react depending on the situation," the diplomatic agency concluded.