Should Finland Join NATO?

[Barrister]

I suspect the best option for Finland, and for Russia, is for Finland to increase military spending and deepen its interoperability with NATO, but to forego actual membership.  There's still some security value for the Fins to remain marginally Finlandized, and unfortunately there's some ambiguity in the value of NATOs s. 5 guarantees.

[Grinning_Colossus]

If they do join I look forward to RT explaining how the Winter War was a justified self defense against the Fascist Finns.

They are already doing that.

No shit? Well best to be pre-emptive.

I'm sure that's RT's position as well.

[Eddie Teach]

I suspect the best option for Finland, and for Russia, is for Finland to increase military spending and deepen its interoperability with NATO, but to forego actual membership.  There's still some security value for the Fins to remain marginally Finlandized, and unfortunately there's some ambiguity in the value of NATOs s. 5 guarantees.

I dunno, I mean we already got the Baltic states. That's sure to rankle the Russkis a lot more than Finland.

[Admiral Yi]

I dunno, I mean we already got the Baltic states. That's sure to rankle the Russkis a lot more than Finland.

I think he's talking about the deal from Finland's POV.  I.e. is it in their interest to incur the obligation to come to Latvia's defense.

[derspiess]

What's encouraging to me is that they are talking about increasing defense spending as a component of their move towards NATO.  Kind of a nice change of pace from some of the current members letting their armed forces wither away.

[Josquius]

From a Finnish perspective- no, why should they?
NATO has their back anyway and they don't have to do anything in return.

From a lets annoy Russians perspective- hell yes.

[crazy canuck]

From a Finnish perspective- no, why should they?
NATO has their back anyway and they don't have to do anything in return.

From a lets annoy Russians perspective- hell yes.

If Russia found an excuse to violate Finnish sovereignty what would NATO do?  probably nothing.  Whether Finland was in our out of NATO.

[The Brain]

From a Finnish perspective- no, why should they?
NATO has their back anyway and they don't have to do anything in return.

From a lets annoy Russians perspective- hell yes.

I don't think NATO will do a nuclear exchange with Russia over Finland if Finland isn't a member.

[derspiess]

I always thought "nuclear exchange" sounded too polite.  Like a cookie exchange but a little different.

[DGuller]

Eh, sure, why not?

[Razgovory]

You know what would really make them shit?  Get China to join.

[derspiess]

That would be worse for us than Russia.  Russia and China are pretty cozy these days anyway.

[Razgovory]

That would be worse for us than Russia.  Russia and China are pretty cozy these days anyway.

Not so Cozy if they are NATO.