Finland says enough
Leaders of Finland announced yesterday that they were in favor of rapidly applying to join NATO, the defense alliance that counts 30 members including the US, UK, France and Germany.
That announcement is reflective of a change in Finland's national mood since Russia invaded Ukraine. As recently as the end of February a poll found that only just over half of all Finns were in favor of joining the military alliance. Just over two months later, that proportion has risen to 76%, while the number opposed to joining the alliance has fallen from 28% to 12%.
The announcement from Finland, with Sweden also looking at potentially joining, has frustrated officials in Russia who have long warned against NATO expansion. Because of their 800-mile border with Russia, if Finland does join the alliance it will more than double NATO's border with Russia (map here).
