Finland: Interview with officer on NATO accession and Russia

Interview

Niko* is a corporal in the Finnish Army with the rank of sergeant major. He has been in the military for 18 years. He talks to watson.ch about his country’s accession to NATO and the relationship between the Finnish population and Russia.

Joanna Oulevay / watson.ch

watson.ch: Niko*, how did the Finnish army experience the country’s accession to NATO?

Niko*: I would like to start by emphasizing that my statements only apply to me. As far as I can remember, the atmosphere in the Finnish army has always been very pro-NATO. For the past few weeks, the staff has simply been waiting for Turkish and Hungarian ratification, some patiently, some less so, like the rest of the population.

How did you and your colleagues in the army react when Finland finally got the green light to join?

There were no big celebrations or festivals. Some people drank alone, while others settled for a “celebration coffee,” which is very Finnish… On the other hand, many shared their joy on social media Facebook or in Whatsapp groups. That’s also very Finnish, I think.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (Ml) congratulates his Finnish colleague Pekka Haavisto on joining NATO.Image: AP / Geert Vanden Wijngaert

Does the majority of Finns support this strategic approach?

My rough estimate is that well over 50 percent of Finns have supported joining NATO since the Russian invasion began. This is a big change: according to some official sources, in 2021 only 26 percent of Finns were still in favor of joining NATO.

How did the Finnish population take the before 2022 Relationship to Russia true?

The population had retained the attitude from the Soviet era: we have to come to terms with the Russians and not annoy them. She believed that in this way we could live in peace, as we have done for decades. However, February 24, 2022 fundamentally changed the situation. The People have realized that what is in the Ukraine happens, could happen here too. And that choosing NATO would give us the best chance of avoiding a conflict with the Russians. Or, at worst, to get the help and support we need to fight the Russians if it comes to that.

Do you have colleagues or friends who were against a rapprochement between Finland and NATO?

I have never met anyone in the Finnish army who is against NATO. Never. We have been part of the Partnership for Peace (PFP) program for many years. For this reason, we have participated in NATO exercises and joint training throughout my military career. So no radical changes await us.

Finnish soldiers during an exercise last year.Bild: IMAGO / Magazine photo

Emotions have been running high in various European countries since 2022. Which feelings does the Finnish army harbor towards Russia?

The Finnish army was never divided in relation to Russia, on the contrary. Everyone who serves here has only one task: to prepare to fight the Russians. That’s all we do. That’s what we’ve always done. The attack on Ukraine may have come as a surprise to the population, but not really to the army. It was always expected that the Russians could do exactly what they did in Ukraine. We were just a little surprised that the Russians are so lacking in training, tactics and overall performance. This is good news for us.

And in the population?

The feelings towards Russia are very negative in the Finnish population. She is against the Russian invasion, we support Ukraine with economic and military aid. Many voluntary organizations provide support. I myself, together with my colleague, bought a generator and various petrol cans for Ukrainian civilians, who were in a School have to live. I also sent military equipment to Kiev. Some people have even repaired old military trucks and then shipped them loaded with materials.

Finland’s accession to NATO could increase tensions in the region and harden the fronts. Aren’t you worried there might be friction at the border?

Personally, I don’t expect anything to happen at the borders in the near future. Not any longer longer. Any conflict with Finland is now a conflict and a war with NATO. At the moment, the Russians do not have the resources to engage in such a fight. Most of the major Russian military bases along the border have been evacuated. The troops were sent to Ukraine and suffered heavy casualties there. Some bases have lost more than half their people.

Usually, the Finnish military knows where these Russians are and how strong they are. And currently, the Russians are unable to launch a surprise attack without informing all of NATO. Even before accession, a US Air Force aircraft designed to collect electronic intelligence flew into Finnish airspace for the first time. The message was clear: Finland and NATO can now look deep into Russian territory. We can keep an eye on them.

How has the army prepared for accession in recent months?

I can’t reveal too much. The Finnish Army will continue to do what it has always done. Since last spring, NATO or USA continuously trained with various units in Finland and the media reported extensively on it.

What changes are expected?

At this point we do not know how and to what extent accession will affect our army. The Finnish Army made its largest military purchase (F-35 fighter jets) before accession, and we already spent almost 2 percent of our GDP on military and defense spending. Going forward, the Finnish Army will continue its mission of protecting borders and maintaining territorial integrity as usual, and we will maintain our nationwide conscription.

We don’t expect many things to change. We will certainly take part in more joint exercises. We could become part of the Alliance Air Police in the countries of the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, but nothing has been officially determined yet. But I’m very optimistic and looking forward to training with the allies within the Finnish borders and in other countries.

You sound very happy!

I am very happy about joining NATO. Personally, I’ve been waiting for this day my entire adult life. I think this is the best thing that has happened to Finland since independence in 1917. Relations between Russia and the western world, including Finland, are at rock bottom and I don’t think that will change anytime soon. The Russians caused our membership in NATO themselves, and these bad relations are their fault.

Finland has a very strong army. So do you think NATO can benefit from your experience and strengths?

First of all, Finland is one of the few European countries that has never abolished conscription. We have an army that is very powerful in times of war. It includes more than 280,000 soldiers, 900,000 are in reserve. Our artillery corps are the most powerful in Europe. We have one of the strongest and most modern air forces in Europe with 62 F/A-18 fighter aircraft. New F-35 fighter jets will arrive between 2026 and 2030, a real advantage over the Baltic states, which have no fighter jets at all. So yes, I think NATO is lucky to have us.

My personal Opinion is that NATO has found a reliable and strong member in the Scandinavian region, whose army is designed to wage a major land war in northern Europe against the Russians. And whose people are determined to defend their country. And I think that Finland has found a strong partner with a lot of military resources and military assistance provided through Article 5 of NATO if needed. Personally, I believe that Finland’s accession will stabilize Northern Europe and Scandinavia for the next few years and that the Russians will think twice before showing hostility.

Those are big words…

I could exaggerate a bit and say that Finland’s entry into NATO would probably mean hundreds of thousands of people on both sides Life saved because it is now much less likely that there will be a major war with the Russians in the near future. In any case, the Finnish army will become stronger and train more with NATO allies. In general, Finland will do its best to maintain peace and stability in Scandinavia. I really hope it stays that way. We will “never be alone again,” as General Adolf Ehrnrooth, a Winter War veteran, said.

*Name changed by editors