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‘Our Decision Was Made on February 24’
“Our decision was made on February 24”, is a quote from a former Finnish Prime Minister. The date that Russia invaded Ukraine. Sweden will probably make the same decision in the weeks or days to come. 76% of respondents to the last poll taken in Finland approved joining NATO.
Since 2014 Finland has been increasing their defense spending to 1.96% of their GDP. NATO has set a goal of two percent for NATO nations.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey has said he is not in favor of Finland and Sweden joining NATO due to the fact that both countries have Kurdish refugees in both countries. President Erdoğan is still upset that Greece was allowed to join NATO. “Greece remains the alliance’s biggest spender (on defense) as a share of GDP, contributing 3.59%.” Turkey does not meet the 2% GDP NATO goal on defense spending. Turkey spends about 1.60% of GDP on defense spending. Greece and Turkey have a long contentious history of conflict between them.
Russia has now cut-off electricity to Finland. Russia provides about 6% of Finland’s electricity. There have been military threats as well. Putin’s Special Operation in Ukraine has resulted in a new NATO neighbor that has an 800-mile-long border with Russia.
As a side note, a Russian legislator has said that after a Russian victory in Ukraine Poland will be next on the list of nations for the Reconquista of Eastern Europe.
Finland has been involved with NATO armed forces in military exercises. Like Sweden, they have military assistance pact with the US and the UK.
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Published in Military
IT’s a pretty short-sighted view, in my opinion. I don’t like the Turks. I was mystified that Claire thought it worth going there. All my life they have been considered corrupt and backwards, and they still are. The people are even more repressed than normal now, but I don’t much care. As long as they are on our side and won’t make us fight them to get access to the Black Sea when needed, then I’m all for them. They aren’t allowing access now because it’s convenient for us. It’s like the kid at school letting a friend hold him back from getting in a fight.
I would add that cowing a nation such as Turkey into submission might be beyond our capabilities, and that the lack of that ability is probably a good thing.
I saw this morning (on Defense One) that Turkey is now saying they won’t delay Sweden and Finland’s requests to join NATO. I suppose it’s just a coincidence that Biden has asked Congress to approve a sale of F-16 upgrades for Turkey (who has said that they want to buy more of the aircraft).
Who knows how Erdogan’s mind works? I don’t believe anyone in Washington has a clue.
The inclusion of Warmonger Kristol should send up red flags.
I assume adding another nation or two would simply increase the price-tag for the U.S., since we’re the chief financier of NATO.
And given the state of our economy, we probably shouldn’t be increasing costs anywhere.
Either that, or it will spread out the costs more evenly with more of the countries paying their fair share.
Somehow I don’t see the Swedes or Finns skimping on defense spending. Not in the near term.
I do. Like all other members of NATO, they know we’ll pick up the slack.
As Ben Jonson observed, the prospect of being hanged in two weeks has a powerful effect of clarifying one’s thinking. With Russia on their doorstep, both, but especially Finland has that prospect. They have to stop Russia as near to the border as possible. They cannot wait until the US Cavalry arrives.
I wish you wouldn’t make it easy for them to renege.
Sweden plans to ramp-up their defense spending to the 2% level. They are not as geographically close to Russia as Finland is. They started raising their level of defense spending after the Russian annexation of Crimea. Denmark is working on raising their defense spending. Germany is increasing their defense spending and has admitted they have not been spending what they should and needed to do.
Russia in the recent past has been testing Swedish airspace as well sending submarines to penetrate Swedish waters. If Putin wants good neighbors, then he should be a good neighbor.
This is what Finland brings to NATO:
“On the ground, Finland has one of the strongest artillery forces in Europe with around 1500 different artillery systems. It also maintains relatively large and effective conscript and reserve forces. In December 2021 poll, 90% of male Finnish participants and 84% of women said they would be ready to defend their country to the best of their abilities, some of the highest figures in Europe.”
“And, “when it comes to fighting in the Arctic and fighting in the snow, nobody beats the Finns,” Townsend said, commenting on the capable nature of Finland’s modern land forces, as well as the country’s historic combat prowess in winter warfighting.”
For instance, Finland has one of the more powerful air forces in Europe, Townsend told Insider.
“They’ve been flying the F/A-18 with the latest US munitions hung on them, and they’re going to buy the F-35,” he said, referring to the US-made fifth-generation stealth fighter the country intends to acquire in a multi-billion deal.”
“He added that both Sweden and Finland have “very professional and modern” navies, explaining that “they carry, in terms of sensors and shooters, quite an interoperable and capable mix of firepower.” Swedish subs, for example, have demonstrated their effectiveness in naval war games.”
“In a 2005 exercise, Sweden’s HSMS Gotland, a small diesel-powered submarine with a quiet, Stirling engine, was able to get close to and take out the USS Ronald Reagan, a $6.2 billion US Navy aircraft carrier, without detection. Over the next few years during war games, the Gotland was continuously successful, able to stealthily overcome destroyers and nuclear attack submarines.”
“And Sweden has in its arsenal of combat aircraft the Gripen fighters, a jet that the country previously claimed would excel at taking out Sukhoi aircraft. The Sukhoi aircraft flown by the Russians are notorious for their ability to maneuver in dogfights, but Sweden has said its jets have the edge.
“Gripen, especially the E-model, is designed to kill Sukhois. There we have a black belt,” Maj. Gen. Mats Helgesson, then the commander of Sweden’s air force, told Yle at a presentation in 2019. In particular, these planes are said to shine in electronic warfare.”
Quotes from Business Insider
Good. So let’s leave Nato since they are going to be so well defended.
Let’s not, for the same reason.