In Italy, large parts of the political world do not understand why Finland wants to join NATO today. Misunderstandings ranging from the right (which until some time ago were making friends in Moscow), to the left, which with various intellectuals takes care to advise Finns on what is best to do (staying in Italy, of course).
Jenni Paiunen , city councilor in Helsinki since 2017, now in her second mandate with Kokoomus, the liberal center party, tells L'Unione Sarda how things are seen in her country. Born in 1980, a degree in Economics and Commerce from the University of Aalto (Helsinki) and a Masters in European Politics from the College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium, between 2002 and 2013 he worked as a European election observer and in international development at the European Union and the World Bank. During this period he lived for 10 years in France, Belgium, Spain, Chile, Barbados, Angola and the United States. Since returning to Finland , she has worked in the field of health technologies and currently as the managing director of the Finnish Brain Foundation which supports neurology research. He speaks Finnish, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and a little Swedish. She lives with her husband and daughter in central Helsinki.
Can you explain why Finland decided to join NATO?
“We want to live in peace in our country. That is why we now want to become NATO members. This is our defense. We don't want to threaten anyone with our application for entry. Finland and Sweden are applying for NATO membership at the same time. On February 24, when Russia launched an offensive war in Ukraine, it changed Finland's perception of security forever. Our president Sauli Niinistö in his March speech expressed himself thus: "The masks have been removed and now there is only the cold face of the war ahead". From a NATO point of view, the accession of Finland and Sweden to the defense alliance will improve the security of the Baltic Sea and the Arctic region. Over the years, Finland has worked closely together as a NATO partner for peace. However, we did not have the security guarantees of NATO Article 5. Finland will continue to rely on its own defense, NATO membership will bring greater credibility and security guarantees. Finland meets the criteria for membership: it has a modern defense force, compatible with NATO, and we have kept defense spending above 2% of GDP. "
What were the reactions in your country to Putin's speech last February, before starting the war?
“Although it was known that Russia was concentrating troops on the borders of Ukraine , Finnish experts did not believe that Russia would start a war. We thought Putin would have more to lose than gain. The speech of February 21, 2022 opened our eyes to the fact that the threat of war was real, the speech was scary. Putin announced his recognition of the rebel territories in eastern Ukraine as independent. Finland was not mentioned in the speech, but many of the historical arguments used were applicable not only to Ukraine but also to Finland ”.
The current Prime Minister Sanna Marin (and with her the Social Democratic Party that supports her) were radically opposed to Finland's entry into NATO; today they have become the main supporters. What made them change their minds?
“The horrors of the Ukrainian war, such as the murder and rape of civilians and the destruction of hospitals and other humanitarian facilities, were widely reported in the Finnish media. In light of history, it is easy for Finns to identify with the suffering of Ukrainians, which has accelerated the evolution of public opinion on the NATO issue. The outbreak of the war in Ukraine has also changed the position of our Prime Minister: Sanna Marin now claims to have long supported NATO membership, but in January she told Reuters that she considered Finland's candidacy to NATO highly unlikely. Most Finnish parties in the past have opposed NATO membership, but since the start of the war in Ukraine, one party after another has changed positions. The only major parliamentary party that does not officially support NATO membership is the Left Alliance. I am proud that for once the political parties who tend to disagree have been able to work together on the issue of NATO "
In general, in the country (media, intellectuals, trade unions) what is the attitude towards this entry into NATO? Have any polls been done?
“The debate on NATO in Finland has been broader in the past three months than in the previous 30 years combined. It involved politicians, researchers, media and citizens. Support for Finland in NATO was 28% in January 2022 and 73% in a May 11, 2022 poll by Helsingin Sanomat (Finland's leading NDT newspaper). Business representatives were strongly in favor of Finland joining NATO. The additional security provided by NATO was considered important for the Finnish economy to attract investments, foreign experts and tourists ”.
What was the historical attitude of Finland in its relations with the USSR and then with Russia?
“Finland and Russia have 1,340 kilometers of common borders. From Helsinki to St. Petersburg there are less than 400 km, the distance from Modena to Rome. Finland was at war with the Soviet Union during World War II. We remained independent, but we lost about 10% of Finland's land area to the Soviet Union and some Soviet bases were set up in Finland (dismantled in the 1950s). During the Cold War and after the fall of the Soviet Union, a policy of non-alignment was maintained by balancing East and West. Historically, trade with Russia has been important to the Finnish economy, but its share has declined, especially since the start of the Crimean War in 2014. Finland is involved in Russian sanctions within the European Union. Russia has stated that it will respond to Finland's application for NATO membership and Finland has made preparations. It can also mean a military concentration at our borders or various hybrid and cyber attacks. For example, in 2015-16 Russia systematically sent asylum seekers across the border to sow instability in Finland ”.
In 2005, the President of the Republic Tarja Halonen took part in the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Victory Day in Moscow, and opposed the use of mines along the border with Russia. What did these attempts at opening ultimately produce?
“Finland has always tried to maintain good relations with Moscow. Former Finnish president Tarja Halonen was widely criticized in Finland this spring and his presidency policy was seen in a new light; was considered naive. In my opinion, during Tarja Halonen's presidency in the early 2000s, there were probably more reasons to be optimistic about Russia's development. In hindsight, the story is easier to explain than when the situation is moving. Since then, the evolution of democracy in Russia has been sad to watch, the opposition and free media have been defeated, dissidents like Boris Nemtsov and Alexey Navalny have been murdered or imprisoned. The current president of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, is also known for his close contacts with Vladimir Putin. His May 11 message to Russia regarding Finland's candidacy for NATO is more direct than ever: "You caused this, look in the mirror."
Is it true that you in Finland have always had bunkers that are regularly used for exercises in the event of an attack? Why have you always maintained these practices?
“The shelters have been built in Finland for over 80 years. Finland has 54,000 civil protection reception centers, which is the second best protection situation in the world after Switzerland. In Helsinki, for example, metro stations were built. After the start of the war in Ukraine, the discussion on the "preparation" and the situation of civilian shelters began immediately among the Finns and also in the Helsinki City Council. Finns were also asked to take emergency supplies home for 72 hours if needed. This means food, water, flashlights, and a radio in the event of a power failure. This in itself is nothing new. The instructions are similar in many emergency situations, I remember the same instructions while preparing for a hurricane in the Caribbean ”.
We are voting in Parliament these days: how will the parties vote?
“A strong majority in Parliament will support the application for NATO membership. My prediction is that about 190/200 will vote in favor (which also means half of the parliamentarians of the Left Alliance ed .).
Finland is a country that joined the European Union in 1995 and also joined the euro (the only Nordic country to have adopted the euro as its currency). In your opinion, will membership of NATO change anything in the Europeanism of your country?
“In Finland we feel that we are now even more clearly part of the West. The war in Ukraine will forever change Europe and Finland with it. NATO's role in Europe has grown with Ukraine. Europe is divided and the sanctions against Russia will last a long time; peace must be established in Ukraine as soon as possible and Europe must contribute to its reconstruction. The EU and its Member States have taken historic decisions on security policy, for example as regards military assistance to Ukraine through the European Peace Fund. However, European defense is coordinated through NATO. Due to climate change, Europe must rapidly reduce the use of fossil fuels; at the same time, we must strive to get rid of Russian fuels and buy them elsewhere in the future. The green transition may take a small step backwards momentarily, but it will accelerate in the long run ”.
In Italy it happens to read that Finland is making this decision on the wave of emotion and that it would do better to reconsider. What do you feel like saying to those who think so?
“The balance between reason and emotion is important in all decisions. History will interpret Finland's candidacy for NATO, but in this situation and from this moment on, this is the only option for Finland ”.
Filippo Petrucci - Cagliari