Arizona state university.
Geoff: Today, Finland became the
31st member of the nato
alliance, less than one year
after it petitioned with Sweden
to join.
Finland's accession doubles
nato's border with Russia and it
concludes a historic shift
following 75 years of
non-alignment.
Nick schifrin explores the
significance of expanding nato.
Nick: For decades, Finland
relied on a strong military to
protect itself from Russia, but
Russia's war in Ukraine flipped
the opinions of finns and their
leaders.
And today, Finland's flag rose
for the first time at nato
headquarters, and Finland's
president and nato secretary
general emphasized an attack on
Finland would now be considered
an attack on all of nato.
>> The era of military
non-alignment in our history has
come to an end.
The new era begins.
>> Nato is a community united by
our values -- freedom, democracy
and the rule of law.
We stand together, we protect
and defend each other.
All for one, and one for all.
Nick: To discuss this, we turn
to Heather Conley, president of
German Marshall fund of the
United States, which focuses on
improving transatlantic
relations.
Thank you very much.
Welcome back to the newshour.
How significant is this today
and how does Finland militarily
actually help contribute to
nato's security?
Heather: This was an incredibly
historic day.
It is a special day for nato
because on this day 74 years
ago, nato was founded in
Washington.
It is a great birthday present
to have the 31st member of nato
join Finland.
You are absolutely right.
Finland has an over 800 mile
border with Russia, but they
have focused on their own
territorial defense for decades.
They are a militarily capable
ally and job one for them is
defending Finland, and now of
course, part of nato.
Nick: Putin for years has
opposed nato's expansion.
How much of a strategic setback
is this for the Kremlin?
Heather: It is massive and it is
all because of Putin's decision
on February 24 of last year for
his full-scale invasion of
Ukraine.
Finland was a country that want
Ed the closest possible
relationship with nato but not
to become a nato member.
When that full-scale invasion
began, they completely changed
their opinion.
They did not want to stand
alone.
They did stand alone in 1939
when they fought soviet forces
in the winter war in 1939.
They were able to beat them back
but they had to suffer
finlandization.
The soviet union had to approve
everything that Finland did.
As president Biden often says,
finlandization is no longer the
word, it is nato-ization.
You hear very muted words from
the Kremlin because it is such a
setback.
They threatened Finland, they
threatened Sweden with nuclear
attack if they would join nato.
Now, it is a very muted comment,
because quite frankly, this is a
strategic loss for them.
Nick: Among those comments from
Russia, the deputy foreign
minister warned Russia would
strengthen its military presence
near Finland and would take
unspecified further steps if
more non-finland nato forces
were actually deployed into
Finland.
How likely is that?
Heather: It is really not likely
that you would see a meaningful
deployment of nato forces.
Again, Finland has a very robust
territorial defense.
You are likely to see more
exercises.
We have to integrate fully nato
defense planning but you are not
going to see major
infrastructure or major forces.
Finland can take care of its own
territorial defense.
Again, the Kremlin is incorrect.
Over the last 12 months, they
have removed Russian forces from
Finland's border.
These land forces have been used
in Ukraine and have not come
back.
In many ways, the Finnish
government is seeing an easier
time on the border.
Fwer Russian -- fewer Russian
forces but they know they could
suffer cyber attacks.
They know this will be tested
but they are very ready.
They have been ready since they
set their application into
become nato members.
Nick: U.S. Officials also
worried about Russian cyber
attacks in Ukraine and the west
moving forward.
You mentioned Sweden.
Finland's president said
specifically today that
Finland's membership is not
complete without Sweden, which
is still being held up by both
Turkey and Hungary.
Why are those two countries
holding it up?
Heather: Yah, both have
different reasons.
Turkey has been very concerned
that Sweden has not been as
robust in the fight against
terrorism.
Very specific for Turkey which
would be the pkk.
Nick: The kurdish militant group
decided by the U.S.
Heather: Exactly.
Sweden and Turkey have been in
bilateral conversations.
Sweden has changed its
constitution.
It has been as forward leaning
as it can, but the Turkish
government would like the return
of several kurdish opposition
figures.
And this would be something the
Swedish government will have a
great difficulty to do.
So, this is being held up until
after Turkey holds its
parliamentarian elections on may
14 and everyone is very helpful
that after that election and
before the nato summit in
Lithuania in July, that we can
get past this.
Hungary is in some ways riding
on Turkeys coattails and
blocking this, seeing if they
can get any benefit with Sweden
to try to lessen the European
union strong concerns about
Hungary's lack of rule of law
and diminishment of its
democracy.
It will move when Turkey moves
and Turkey will only move on
Sweden until after their
election, we help.
We need to put a lot of pressure
on the Turkish government.
They did commit they would bring
Sweden and Finland and tomato.
They are working through these
bilateral issues and we are
hoping the expedite this
immediately after their
election.
Nick: Heather Conley of the
German Marshall fund, thank you
very much.