Russia Warns of 'Countermeasures' After Finland Joins NATO

Nearly a year after applying to join NATO, Finland has become the alliance's 31st member. But the country that pushed Helsinki to abandon its decades of neutrality is not pleased. Not long after the Finnish flag was unfurled at NATO's headquarters in Brussels, Russia warned the accession was a dangerous historic mistake that would weaken regional security.

Moscow went further, saying the risk of conflict has now increased, and it would be forced to take counter-measures. Russia and Finland share a 13-hundred km long border, which the Kremlin says has been reinforced in response to NATO's expansion. Last year, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine, to protest what it said was the alliance's encroachment on its territory. In response, Finland and Sweden both applied to join NATO. Last week, Turkiye's parliament ratified Finland's bid, but not Sweden's, due to what Ankara says was the country's failure to crack down on terror groups. So how will Russia respond to Finland's accession and how will NATO react?

Guests:
Glenn Diesen
Professor at University of South-Eastern Norway

Sean Michael Cox
Senior Adviser at the Global Policy Institute

[kyyyni]

Russians had grievances about possible Nato infrastructure to be set up in Finland. But now, all military infrastructure in Finland is Nato infrastructure.

[petereriksson]

Nobody cares what the criminal mafia boss say.

[Jagonath]

It's a bit rich for him to say NATO will be on Russia's border. NATO has been on Russia's border since 2004.

[PeterSedesse]

Russia is so angry they have promised that next month they will take another street in bahkmut.

[Joini]

All of these conflicts because of politicians we the people have never met, and probably never will cause they don't care about us unless we have to fight their wars. It's keeping humanity stagnate. We could be so much more..

[Runawaydog]

THREATS ARE ONLY FOR THOSE,
WHO CAN ENFORCE THEM...

[maydaygoingdown]

Putin is litterealy the best salesman for NATO the West could ever have wished for 😅😅

[Jacare]

There was no mistake. Countries that want to join NATO are doing so for their own security. Can’t blame them. Blame & thank Russia for NATO expansion

[iceiejest]

War criminal with his toothless bear. 😂

[rivermcjohnson]

Thank you Vladolf for making Finland a member of NATO😂😂 You are such a great recruiter😅🎉

[mikewright]

Congratulations Finland. So proud to have you as a member.

[jenniferrobinson]

What's he going to do with no army tanks missiles or weapons?

[leetolstoi]

Imagine this. You are mad and furious at your neighbor because he's building difficult to scale hedges around his property and what's more he's putting watchdogs at every corner.

[frenchimp]

Ukraine has to keep reinforcements along the 1000 km long border with Belarus. Now Russia's gonna have to keep reinforcements along the 1400 km long border with Finland.

[Redfizh]

The risk of conflict has not increased but disappeared completely unless he dare's to sacrifice russian lives that mean nothing for him.
Turpaan tulee niin että tukka lähtee!

[buhawihabagat]

Right on your doorstep..lovely!
Goodbye Putin.

[reynaldobatiduan]

ALL EUROPIAN COUNTRIES ARE VERY HAPPY THAT FINLAND JOINING NATO ALLIANCE

[jeffsiegwart]

Putin, Putin, Putin, you need to send military forces up along the entire Finish border so you can split your forces even further. NATO will gladly send its military forces to Finland along your border just to do standard exercises with the new NATO member. LOL

[williamjacque]

Thank you Putin for leading Finland to join NATO. Keep up the good work Putin and maybe you can lead more countries to NATO. Putin is a great Recruiter for NATO.

[scanpolar]

Finland can answer to the Russians also with military methods. We are not Holland or Belgium.