Russia's Foreign Policy

Statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Finland's membership in NATO
999-12-05-2022

The statement of the President of Finland S. Niinisto and the Prime Minister of Finland S. Marin, who spoke today in favor of Finland's accession to NATO, is a radical change in the country's foreign policy course.

For decades, the policy of military non-alignment has served as the basis for stability in the Northern European region, provided a reliable level of security for the Finnish state, and was a solid foundation for building mutually beneficial cooperation and partnership relations between our countries, in which the role of the military factor was reduced to zero.

Neither Russia's assurances about the absence of any hostile intentions towards Finland, nor the long history of good-neighborly and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries have convinced Helsinki of the advantages of maintaining a course of military non-alignment.

The goal of NATO, whose member countries aggressively convinced the Finnish side that there was no alternative to membership in the alliance, is clear - to continue expanding to the borders of Russia, to create another flank for a military threat to our country. But why should Finland turn its territory into a frontier of military confrontation with the Russian Federation, while losing independence in making its own decisions, history will judge.

The Russian side has repeatedly noted that the choice of ways to ensure its national security is up to the authorities and the people of Finland. However, Helsinki should be aware of the responsibility and consequences of such a step. Finland's accession to NATO will cause serious damage to bilateral Russian-Finnish relations, maintaining stability and security in the Northern European region. Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop the threats to its national security arising in this regard.

Joining NATO will also be a direct violation of Finland's international legal obligations, first of all, the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947, which provides for the obligation of the parties not to enter into alliances or participate in coalitions directed against one of them, as well as the 1992 Treaty. between Russia and Finland on the basis of relations, which established that the parties will refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of the other party, will not use or allow the use of their territory for armed aggression against the other party. However, given the current indifference of the collective West to international law, such behavior has become the norm.

We will react according to the situation.