Finnish parliament’s defence committee recommends NATO membership

GBNews24 Desk//

The defence committee of Finland’s parliament has said joining NATO is the best option for Finland to guarantee its national security.

The recommendation came on Tuesday, ahead of Finland’s official decision on whether to join the transatlantic military alliance in the coming days.

Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto is expected to announce on Thursday his stance on joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a move that would mean a significant shift in security policy for the Nordic country in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reports Al Jazeera.

Finland, which shares a 1,300 km (810-mile) border and a difficult past with neighbouring Russia, is reconsidering its longstanding position to refrain from joining NATO in order to maintain friendly relations with its eastern neighbour.

Finland’s membership in NATO would significantly increase the deterrent for becoming a target of Russia’s aggression, the defence committee concluded in a statement.

“Membership in NATO is the best solution for Finland’s security. It strengthens Finland’s national defence capability with the support of the union’s significant military resources,” the committee’s chairman and main opposition leader Petteri Orpo of the National Coalition party said.

The parliament’s defence committee provided its view on the matter in response to the government’s white paper update of its foreign and security policy.