Finland and Sweden have submitted their applications for Nato membership triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Seven people share their thoughts on what Nato membership would mean for them, and how they feel about the Russia-Ukraine war.
Finland: ‘We are choosing the lesser of two evils’
I feel I speak for many Finns when I say we are choosing the lesser of two evils. I have never been a fan of Nato but Putin has left us no option. He trashed the trust and made it clear that Russia is not only callous and cruel, but its regime is also highly unpredictable in its irredentist adventures. Some Finns have always wanted to join Nato. I can understand that, but I think neutrality served us well over the years. Russia just made it impossible to carry on.
One problem is that because these seismic shifts have been so fast, we’ve never had the time to properly discuss what our role or place in the alliance would be: should we follow the US interests as closely as possible, like Denmark? Or build closer ties with Estonia and [the other] Baltics? Or try to build on a similar peaceful mediator role as before? Mikael Viljanen, 45, teacher, Helsinki, Finland
‘We should have joined Nato when the other Baltic countries did’
We should have joined Nato as early as the Baltic countries did. In Finland we are used to trusting what has been agreed – even someone’s spoken word is enough. The leaders of Russia have shown now very clearly that they act just the opposite.
At the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war I felt deeply desperate and even paralysed. I experienced similar things when I was a child when my father fought against Russians on the frontline as a medic in the war between the Soviet Union and Finland. In Finland there are a lot of people of Russian origin – most of them do not want war. I feel deep sorrow for the ordinary people in Ukraine and Russia who are suffering. Juhani Viherlahti, 80, chief executive and entrepreneur, Espoo, Finland
‘I feel we’ve missed out the possibility of peace’
It’s all happened too fast as if there was absolutely no other choice. I feel we’ve missed out the possibility of peace. Joining Nato seems very shortsighted from the point of a view of a humanist and pacifist. I feel our country will be less safe and Helsinki could become an easy target for Putin. Katja, 56, psychotherapist, Helsinki, Finland
‘I don’t think highly of Nato or what it does’
My preference is for Finland and Sweden to remain independent from Nato, have no US troops or other weapons as they are not needed or wanted. But with the Russia-Ukraine war it was time to apply to join.
I don’t think highly of Nato or what it does. If Finland is allowed to become a member I think there should be no Nato base in the country. Finland has to state that it will remain as a defensive country within Nato, as we’re not into war like the UK, US and others. Russia has complained and made threats since Finland became independent. Sometimes we think Russia should shut up, have a sauna, a beer, and relax. Leif Väisänen, 42, property renovator, Oulu, Finland
Sweden: ‘I think it’s a mistake to break neutrality’
Sweden has been neutral for more than 200 years. I think it’s a mistake to break that neutrality; a Nato membership will not be good for us in the long run. It seems the decision is either out of fear of a Russian invasion, or out of spite because Russia told us not to.
Either way, fear or spite is not a good enough reason to make such a major decision this quickly. I would not want to be responsible should one of the other Nato nations do something stupid. It would be scary to have such a close military relationship with a country such as Turkey. Maria, 22, works for a textile company, Gothenburg, Sweden
‘There will be a price to pay for Nato protection’
I think that the decision has been taken far too rapidly and without real possibility of democratic influence from other political parties. Firstly, the social democrats do not want the Nato question to be a question under debate in the run-up to the election in September. Secondly, they have been successful during Covid to portray themselves as the party that acts appropriately in times of crisis and they want to continue doing so.
Nevertheless, they are abandoning 200 years of neutrality which has served Sweden well. I feel like this is the last part of an ongoing abandonment of the Swedish folkhemmet in which a strong and alliance-free state took care of its citizens. I feel a longing for a society that is now being lost. I also think that there will be a price to pay for Nato protection. Statements by [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan are already signalling what that might be. I think Russia has little interest in Sweden besides if we join Nato – not joining is probably more secure. Karolina Enquist Källgren, 30s, associate professor, Stockholm, Sweden
‘We have no choice but to take the leap into Nato’
As a Finn residing in Sweden with a Swedish spouse, we are both sad that Nato wasn’t buried simultaneously with the Warsaw pact. They are both products of a bygone era. EU should have developed a strong European military union already back then. Regrettably, it’s too late for that now.
Neighbouring countries such as Iceland, Norway and Denmark have participated in a military alliance led by Washington – for what appears to be no visible benefit to any of them. Today’s situation is awful but we have no choice but to take the leap into Nato because some people in the west have allowed the dictatorship in Russia to flourish. Of course, Putin’s guilt is indisputable. Russia must be stopped. Tuomas Sihvonen, 58, editor and translator, from Finland and living in Malmö, Sweden
