Finland's President Stubb: NATO has to prepare himself against Russia!

Finland's President Stubb: NATO has to prepare himself against Russia!

Since the beginning of the Ukraine War in February 2022, the geopolitical tensions in Europe have risen sharply, especially with regard to the safety of the neighboring countries of Russia. Finland, which has a long border with Russia, is particularly affected by these concerns. After NATO joined Finland in April 2023, the new President Alexander Stubb, who took office in March, called for a clear positioning of the alliance to Russia.

in a press conference that took place in the Brussels NATO headquarters, Stubb said that NATO should again think about its original role as a military defense alliance in view of the current threats. The focus is particularly on Russia, which in his view represents the main threat. Stubb said: "I firmly convince that we are now witnessing how NATO 3.0 is created."

The focus on deterrence and defense

Stubb emphasized that it was time to work on both the deterrent and the defense. In view of the common challenges in front of which the NATO countries are facing, a uniform approach is crucial. Finland is actively involved in solidarity initiatives within the alliance and will play a central role in the NATO command structure-improvement program in the future.

In particular, the cooperation with the United States and other northern allies is emphasized to ensure a robust military structure within their own forces. Stubb announced that Finland will be part of a common command in Norfolk, Virginia, which should strengthen the ability to react quickly in crisis situations.

historical changes and public mood

Entry to NATO is an important step for Finland, which was carried out to Ukraine after Russia's attack. Before this conflict, Finland, like many Scandinavian nations, endeavored to stay neutral. However, public approval for NATO membership increased dramatically from 25 percent before the war to over 70 percent after the invasion of Russian troops, which makes the serious changes in the safety thinking of the population clear.

Stubb concluded his speech with the statement that Finland wanted to be a security provider. The willingness of the alliance states to support Finland in these efforts is a positive sign and will be of crucial importance in the coming times. For Finland there is now a new era of cooperation with NATO partners, which is characterized by the common goal of security and defense.