The Finnish and Swedish governments’ announcement to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), “is a direct consequence of the actions of Vladimir Putin”, said Monday, May 16 on franceinfo Camille Grand, Deputy Secretary General of NATO. He is one of those who took part in negotiations with Finland in recent days. With this conflict in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has “rushed the decisions of Finland and Sweden”.
For Finland and Sweden, “from their point of view, it’s a defensive measure in a transformed strategic environment. And it’s not at all about some kind of escalation vis-à-vis Russia, but about defending their security interests and to consolidate security in this part of Europe. And I do not see how Russia can respond militarily to its announcements”he continued.
>> War in Ukraine: we explain the NATO membership procedure awaiting Finland and Sweden
franceinfo: Is the request from Sweden and Finland a signal to Vladimir Putin?
Camille Grand: In any case, it is a direct consequence of the actions of Vladimir Putin. These two countries, which were close partners of NATO, but which had not initiated the process of joining until the events in Ukraine and the aggression against Ukraine precipitated a debate which remained very cautious until ‘so. It is really a very direct consequence of this conflict in Ukraine which has led the two countries to review their security policy because they consider that the security situation in Europe has changed profoundly.
Finland has 1,300 kilometers of common border with Russia. By integrating it, you are not giving reason to Vladimir Putin who denounces the progress of NATO?
It is not NATO that is moving forward, it is the democratic choice of two countries which have taken the decision to initiate a process of membership. Vladimir Putin complained of having too much NATO on his borders. He will have even more, but really by his own decisions. It is something that is a bit paradoxical and a new strategic defeat of Russia after this semi-failed invasion of Ukraine. We see that he precipitated decisions and orientations from Finland and Sweden, which were not in the cards. Before the invasion of Ukraine, 22% of Finns were in favor of NATO membership. They are 76% today, with near political unanimity in the internal debate.
Russia lays down a line. No question of deploying nuclear weapons in these two countries. There will be some ?
It is out of the question today. There are no NATO nuclear weapons deployed in all Alliance countries. That is not what is on the table today. I think what’s interesting is that the Finns behave extremely professionally. The phone call between President Niinistö and President Putin was initiated by the Finns, who had a very frank discussion. They realized it. From their point of view, from the point of view of the Swedes, it is a defensive measure in a transformed strategic environment. This is not at all a kind of escalation vis-à-vis Russia, but rather to defend their security interests and to consolidate security in this northern and Baltic part of Europe.
You don’t fear Russian military reprisals?
I don’t see how Russia will be able to respond militarily to these announcements. We will no doubt have slightly more specific deployments in this region from the Russian army.
“The question today is not that of a military escalation. We are in a situation where the allies have signaled very clearly that they will not accept measures aimed at intimidating Finland or Sweden. “
Camille Grand, Deputy Secretary General of NATOat franceinfo
Once again, it is the democratic choice of two countries that is in progress. And it’s not about embarking on any escalation.
For a country to join NATO, it needs the unanimity of its members. However, Turkey has expressed reservations. Can she veto?
Indeed, there were a number of reservations that were expressed by Turkey. This is a point that was discussed at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin this weekend, and we are confident that a consensus will be reached quickly. It’s fairly standard when an application for membership from one country or another, an ally or another raises a certain number of questions. There were both talks between the Turks on one side, the Finns and the Swedes on the other, but also between the 30 allies who shared a common desire to move fairly quickly towards this accession of Finland and from Sweden.
Ukraine won Eurovision. Tradition dictates that the winning country organizes the ceremony the following year. The war will be over in a year?
We can hope so. The situation on the ground is not favorable to the Russian army, which has revised its strategic objectives considerably downwards, but at the same time, given the violence of the fighting, the gravity of the situation, we must be careful on the outcome of this conflict. What is certain is that the Russian army is facing a truly heroic and very popular resistance from the Ukrainians, which makes its task extremely difficult and which does not allow today to envisage a strategic victory for Russia. in Ukraine, even if there have been territorial conquests, particularly in the south of the country. What is most important is to see how this invasion is somehow a complete mistake, both in assessment of what Ukraine is, in assessment of the Russian army and in a assessment of what Ukrainian society is like and the quality of its army. But also, to assess the reaction of Europeans and Westerners in general.