Finland joined NATO roughly one year ago in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A Russian ambassador had harsh words for Finland on Saturday, warning that the country would retaliate against the new member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if nuclear weapons were placed on Finnish soil.

Finland is one of the newest European countries to join the military alliance, being officially welcomed into the fold in April 2023. The Nordic nation was spurred to seek membership by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and its increased threats of aggression against other nations. Sweden is the latest country admitted to NATO for this reason, joining on March 7.

Both nations announced that they were considering applying for membership in May of 2022, only a few months after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Russia has long viewed NATO as an antagonistic force, given the influence of founding members like the United States and the United Kingdom. NATO members are also obliged to provide military aid to other members in the event of an attack, meaning that Russia risks a much larger conflict should it take action against the likes of Finland.

      • jwt@programming.devEnglish
        27·
        8 months ago

        Huh that phrasing is actually a thing? TIL. Not really sure it conveys situation properly though. Like saying you share chlamydia.

        • Neuromancer@lemm.eeEnglish
          79·
          8 months ago

          Yeah it’s a weird thing but it’s a thing. It’s to prevent them from building their own weapons.

            • Neuromancer@lemm.eeEnglish
              39·
              8 months ago

              That’s exactly the reason. The deal is we let them drop the bomb in return they don’t build one. We control the weapon on their land but they get to drop it in a war.

              • jwt@programming.devEnglish
                13·
                8 months ago

                We control the weapon on their land but they get to drop it in a war.

                That’s a contradictio in terminis.There’s no way the US lets other counties decide when to drop their nuclear bomb.

                The real reason of course is the US wants influence, and the countries it wants influence over agree to it to get other shit done.

                • Neuromancer@lemm.eeEnglish
                  38·
                  8 months ago

                  It’s only for nato countries. The United States has to authorize the attack but yes, the other country gets to drop the bomb. It’s all in the article.

                  • jwt@programming.devEnglish
                    21·
                    8 months ago
                    1. Contents of the agreement are not referenced in the article
                    2. If the US has to authorize it, then no the other country doesn’t ‘get to drop the bomb’. The country gets to push the red button when US says ‘fire’.

                    And as I stated before, the nukes aren’t deployed in those countries because the countries want them there, it’s because the US want them there, and has the ‘persuasiveness’ to get them there.