Finland will not take orders from Russia on its defense strategy, the new defense minister said on Friday, rejecting comments from Moscow warning its small neighbor against joining or working too closely with NATO.
Carl Haglund, who was appointed on Friday and is due to begin his duties next week, said he did not welcome the remarks by Russian military chief General Nikolay Makarov.
Makarov said this month that increasingly close relations between Finland and NATO were disturbing Finnish-Russian ties.
Finnish defense minister rejects Russia rhetoric – chicagotribune.com
Russia is upset that NATO is moving closer to Russia’s border. But let us ask why countries close to Russia’s border want to join NATO or work more closely with it?
Are Russian leaders children? Did they wake up yesterday and realize that Russia has no history? Of course countries near Russia want to join NATO. They are terrified of Russia. And why shouldn’t they be based on Russia’s history?
Russia has been suggesting that NATO encroachment toward Russia may lead to nuclear war. Apparently, the sovereign countries surrounding Russia may not determine their own defensive needs. Also, don’t Russian hostility to NATO and threats suggest both NATO and Russia’s neighbors have something to be worried about?
Russia’s overall aggressive hostility to NATO suggests that NATO should be gearing up for nuclear war regardless of further encroachment. However, if it intends to upset Russia with further encroachment, then perhaps it should start gearing up a little quicker.
