UPI’s Aaltola on Russia’s NATO threat: You shouldn’t panic or join the Russian threat game

Familiar with propaganda and trying to influence, says the director of the Foreign Policy Institute Mika Aaltola Russia’s threat to the Foreign Ministry.

Russia’s ideas regarding Finland’s and Sweden’s membership in NATO have been known for years.

– You shouldn’t be surprised. This has been repeated many times in recent months by Russian leaders. Finland’s sovereign decisions may not join or will not join Russia, even though they thus condition Finland’s sovereignty.

Director of the European Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergei Belyaev warn unews agency Interfax interview (you move to another service)that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO would have serious military and political consequences for the countries. Joining would lead to Russian retaliation, even revenge is being talked about.

– It is not worth taking part in the game of Russian gambling. These utterances can be placed in the realm of psychological warfare and left to their own devices. They must not affect how Finland manages its own defense most effectively.

According to Aaltola, statements must, of course, be taken seriously in that sense, because they tell about Russian thinking. Russia’s demands for interests and the attack on Ukraine have changed Finland’s security situation.

– These Russian retaliation could be to concentrate troops around Finland. Russia is now treating Finland as a possible enemy through NATO and preparing militarily for Finland. Economic retaliation may be another option.

In an interview, Director Belyaev also disapproves of joint Finnish-Swedish military exercises with NATO near the Russian border. They mimic the U.S. attack on Russia, he said, even with a nuclear weapon.

– Of course, this is full of rubbish and completely cheeky talk. This is the use of the Russian language.

– For them, defending means attacking. They do not even feel that they are at war in Ukraine, although it is obvious to everyone else. This is a new language that describes things the opposite of what they are. This is a typical Russian information warfare.

According to UPI Aaltola, Russia’s defiance and demands for interests could eventually turn the opposite than Russia hopes. The desire of other countries to ally or deepen military cooperation is only growing.

– So this is a model example of how Russia should not act in the current situation. As has been noticed, Russia often acts in a way that is detrimental to itself.

Finland has also decided to intensify its relations with the West, and support for NATO membership has grown considerably since the Russian invasion.

Russia’s critical attitude towards NATO is not new, as Russia has repeated similar threats in the past. Russia’s Foreign Ministry’s comments also do not affect Finland’s NATO relations or co-operation, Head of the Eastern Department of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Marja Liivala estimates.

– Finland considers NATO to be an actor promoting security and stability in Europe and the Baltic Sea as a defense alliance. We will continue to work extensively with NATO on a partnership basis.

Liivala emphasizes that Finland is not currently facing any immediate military threat, although Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed the security environment in Europe as a whole.

– We maintain a strong national defense capability and readiness. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are also monitoring various information flows and n-influences, which are now much in circulation.

– Finland has strongly condemned the Russian attack and is responding to Russia’s actions as part of the European Union and the international community. We also support Ukraine nationally and as part of the EU.

Russia has declared EU countries so-called unfriendly. The Foreign Ministry urges to avoid any kind of travel to Russia at this time.

Story edited 12.3. at 5:48 p.m. Added comments by Marja Liivala, Head of the Eastern Department at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

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