The steely Finn leading her country into Nato
Sanna Marin, who became Finland’s prime minister two years ago at the age of 34, has applied for the country to join Nato. While Finland, which has a 1,300 kilometre border with Russia, has pursued a policy of well-armed neutrality until now, Putin’s assault on Ukraine clinched its decision to join the military alliance
When Micheál Martin visited Helsinki last month to meet Sanna Marin she explained how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had sent political shockwaves through the country.
“The prime minister of Finland told me that everything they were taught during their school days about the potential fear and threat of what could happen [to Finland] was realised in the invasion of Ukraine,” the Taoiseach told the Dáil last week.
“Given that it is physically on the border ...
