Special Report

Why neutral Finland, similar in size to Ireland, joined Nato

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine prompted the Nordic country to abandon its long-held neutrality

Raili Lahnalampi, Finnish Ambassador to Ireland, says Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has forced the world to adapt to a new reality

In April, Finland (population 5.5 million people) formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) following Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.

That invasion reminded the Finnish of their own history.

On November 30, 1939, the then Soviet Union attacked Finland, claiming dishonestly that Finland had provoked the war.

Finland resisted for three months with little outside help.

“Now we must make sure that Ukraine wins their war against Russia – a war defending their independence ...