Should Finland join the NATO?

[Western Mercenary Unio]

There has been a debate for years about the possibility of joining the NATO. Right now, most are against it and the government is keeping it as an option. The Defense Forces are making preparations for it saying that it would increase our security. I myself am undecided about it. On one hand it would increase our security but on the other there's the obligations that come with it and other things. So, the question is the thread title: Should Finland join the NATO?

[Yootopia]

No, because they don't need to, and Finland doesn't really have the kind of professional army needed by the countries in NATO nowadays for their globetrotting missions.

[Longhaul]

I'd say that it should be up to the Finns.

Right now, most are against it

So no, then.

[Georgetpwn]

Finland should join NATO, mainly for protection from the ruskies.

[Western Mercenary Unio]

I'd say that it should be up to the Finns.

Right now, most are against it

So no, then.

The question has been put on hold for the Halonen's term. When the new government is chosen, the position might change I should add.

Finland should join NATO, mainly for protection from the ruskies.

Why would they want to attack us? They have no reason to do that.

[Yootopia]

Finland should join NATO, mainly for protection from the ruskies.

They've done alright so far...

[Buffett and Colbert]

...

There really is no point. I don't think Finland is going to get involved in some major war any time soon.

[Western Mercenary Unio]

...

There really is no point. I don't think Finland is going to get involved in some major war any time soon.

The only reason for us to do so would be protection from a possible war with Russia. Which is unlikely.

[Yootopia]

...

There really is no point. I don't think Finland is going to get involved in some major war any time soon.

The only reason for us to do so would be protection from a possible war with Russia. Which is unlikely.

If you join NATO, the Russians will drop a nuke on Helsinki along with the rest of the world in case of a war. If you get invaded outside of NATO, some of your country might be left

[Kryozerkia]

Finland shouldn't join; it's a bad idea. Canada is in it and we wound up in Afghanistan. Now that the Cold War is over, there is no need for NATO.

[United Russian State]

No! NATO should disband.

[The Tofu Islands]

I don't think they really need to. I'd say that if the Finnish public wanted it, go for it. Seeing as that's not the case, I wouldn't bother. But it's not really my decision, so meh.

If you join NATO, the Russians will drop a nuke on Helsinki along with the rest of the world in case of a war. If you get invaded outside of NATO, some of your country might be left

... for the fallout to contaminate.

[The Atlantian islands]

Yes, because it would send a big F-U to the Russians.

[Grays Harbor]

No! NATO should disband.

why should NATO disband? because the warsaw pact fell apart and the "members" rushed to join with western europe after its collapse?

as for the OP, while I am firmly in favor of NATO's continued existance, it may not be what is best for Finland. Sweden, Austria and Swizterland have done well enough without being members, so can Finland.

[United Russian State]

No! NATO should disband.

why should NATO disband? because the warsaw pact fell apart and the "members" rushed to join with western europe after its collapse?

as for the OP, while I am firmly in favor of NATO's continued existance, it may not be what is best for Finland. Sweden, Austria and Swizterland have done well enough without being members, so can Finland.

It is an aggresive alliance towards eastern alliances. If there is ever to be peace it must disban. It was made to be an anti Soviet alliance but it is now gone. Thy promised not to expand membership past Germany but have. Until it is gone there is a new cold war going on.p

[Bears Armed]

Until it is gone there is a new cold war going on.p

But now there is "a new cold war going on" disbanding it wouldn't be a sensible thing for the members to do, it would just seem a show of weakness... The right time for NATO to disband was after the Warsaw Pact did so but before this "new cold war" situation arose.

[Galloism]

Until it is gone there is a new cold war going on.p

But now there is "a new cold war going on" disbanding it wouldn't be a sensible thing for the members to do, it would just seem a show of weakness... The right time for NATO to disband was after the Warsaw Pact did so but before this "new cold war" situation arose.

I somehow missed that in the news.

When did this "New Cold War" start?

[Hydesland]

Would NATO notice if it joined? /jk

[Jakra]

Until it is gone there is a new cold war going on.p

But now there is "a new cold war going on" disbanding it wouldn't be a sensible thing for the members to do, it would just seem a show of weakness... The right time for NATO to disband was after the Warsaw Pact did so but before this "new cold war" situation arose.

I somehow missed that in the news.

When did this "New Cold War" start?

There was an Old Cold War?!? (JK)

Seriously, Finalnd joining NATO is a big security advantage. You'd have to blind to not see Russia on the rebound. But if anything this will prevent another Cold War. With NATO on it's doorstep Russia would be forced to negotiate once they realized there is no shield of satelite nations this time.
Honestly, I believe someday Russia will probably join NATO.

[Glorious Freedonia]

Russia has been acting pretty strangely lately. They should join.

[United Russian State]

Until it is gone there is a new cold war going on.p

But now there is "a new cold war going on" disbanding it wouldn't be a sensible thing for the members to do, it would just seem a show of weakness... The right time for NATO to disband was after the Warsaw Pact did so but before this "new cold war" situation arose.

I somehow missed that in the news.

When did this "New Cold War" start?

Georgia was the first round.

[Bears Armed]

Until it is gone there is a new cold war going on.p

But now there is "a new cold war going on" disbanding it wouldn't be a sensible thing for the members to do, it would just seem a show of weakness... The right time for NATO to disband was after the Warsaw Pact did so but before this "new cold war" situation arose.

I somehow missed that in the news.

When did this "New Cold War" start?

Although the situation obvioussly isn't as fraught as it was from the late 1940s until 1980, the current relationship between Russia and NATO is certainly far from cordially warm: Putin's publicly-expressed anti-'Western' attitudes (reported in elements of the British press, if not in that of the USA...), his drive to re-establish Russian control over as many of the formerly 'Soviet' republics as possible (including his armed support for 'breakaway' groups within some of those), the attempted poisoning of the main pro-'western' candidate in Ukraine's elections a few years ago (for which there was reasonably good evidence of Russian involvement) and the more recent killing of a Russian dissident in London (by poisoning with radioactive Polonium) for which the evidence was so strong that the British authorities sought extradition of the main suspect from Russia, several occasions when Putin sent military aircraft to probe the airspace of Britain just like the Soviets used to do, his threats against those countries in eastern Europe that considered hosting parts of the USA's planned missile-defence system...
NATO certainly bears a share of the blame, for pushing eastwards after the Warsaw Pact collapsed and thus provoking the Russians' habitual paranoia, but from the evidence that I've seen presented Putin -- even though he's no longer a Marxist by creed -- is still basically an unreformed totalitarian at heart.

[Farnhamia]

Would NATO notice if it joined? /jk

Yes, because all of a sudden there would be all these people with unpronounceable names showing up for meetings.

[Bears Armed]

Would NATO notice if it joined? /jk

Yes, because all of a sudden there would be all these people with unpronounceable names showing up for meetings.

But it's already got the Hungarians...

[Greed and Death]

make Finland the 51st state.