Finland joining NATO could affect Delhi too

Source: The post is based on the article “Finland joining NATO could affect Delhi too” published in the Indian Express on 6th April 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 2: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Relevance: About Finland joining NATO.

News: Finland has long been neutral in Russia’s prolonged conflict with the West. But recent induction of Finland into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is seen as a major setback for Russia.

Note: Finland is NATO’s 31st member.

What are the reasons for Finland joining NATO?

Finland was part of the Russian empire for a century. Finland’s neutrality in favour of the Soviet Union through the Cold War made “Finlandisation” part of the global diplomatic lexicon.

Note: Finlandization refers to the policy of strict neutrality between Moscow (Russia) and the West that Finland followed during the decades of the Cold War.

Many of Finland’s small European neighbours have been at the receiving end of Russia’s muscular regional policies over the last decade. But, the prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased fears among Central European countries. Hence, countries like Finland and Sweden seek NATO membership to secure their interests.

What is the Russian observation of Finland joining NATO?

One of the many justifications Russia said for the aggression against Ukraine was the relentless expansion of NATO closer to Russian borders since the late 1990s. Russia responded that NATO’s inclusion of Finland is an “encroachment on Russian security and on Russia’s national interests”.

What are the implications of Finland joining NATO?

Increases the power of the Western alliance in the Nordic region: This is because a) Finland has maintained a small but capable armed force that is well-trained and resilient, b) As the Arctic ice cap melts amidst global warming, the high north has become attractive commercially and contested geopolitically. So, Finland’s inclusion in NATO will give an edge to the US and its allies.

Militarisation of the high north appears inevitable: Finland and Sweden turn from neutrals to Western allies and China raises its profile in the Arctic in partnership with Russia. This might militarise the Nordic region in future. This might make global governance of the Arctic region increasingly problematic.

–India is an observer of the Arctic Council that seeks to promote wide-ranging cooperation in the polar north. Hence, India might want to watch closely the impact of Finland’s NATO membership on the Arctic region.