in Finland, the population is in favor of joining NATO

For the inhabitants of Lahti, in the south of Finland, it’s time for training on a military base in the middle of the forest: they chain combat techniques, first aid gestures or even shooting exercises with assault rifles and live ammunition. But here, no participant is a career soldier. “We are only 5 million inhabitants, so if we want to defend our country, many of us must learn to shoot a weapon”says one of the residents in training.

This is the Finnish concept of total defence. Everyone must have their place to participate, if necessary, in the war effort. To Lahti, cIt’s even a group of musicians learning to hold a checkpoint. Participation in these exercises is not compulsory, but according to the instructors, 80% of the adult population participates in them at least once a year. The Finns have long believed that this defense was sufficient and that the country could therefore remain neutral. But things are changing drastically. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a majority of Finns are now in favor of joining NATO. For its part, Russia has threatened serious military consequences if Finland joins NATO. Everywhere in the country, we therefore check the air-raid shelters, which are mandatory under the majority of buildings.