Finland joining NATO

is this what will drive Vlad over the edge?

wish I hadn't read that article about what it's like to be nuked earlier

going to assume that since all modern weapons are much bigger than Hiroshima / Nagasaki that obliteration is more likely than hideous maiming

somebody (forget who - some high up miltiary/diplomatic type) was asked on R4 what was in it for us in accepting Finland to NATO? he said that the an attack on Finland is an attack on us and this would help prevent it -  I  didnt understand the logic - if they are not in NATO it is not an attack on us.   I am not convinced further circling Russia with NATO nations is the best way to de-escalate things (of course I can see why Finland would want to join but they have had decades to do so when joining would not have been quite so provocative and chose not to).   Finland staying non NATO seems to be a bargaining chip to save face for Putin which we are giving up too soon.

I see the other side of the argument - that once in NATO he will not dare attack -  of course.  We are taking a strong line and I see the argument for it, but it may make settlling the current war harder.

Ultimately a people has a right to self determination and if they or anyone else wants to join NATO then we should welcome them.

If Vlad the Cuck gets a bit boo hoo hoo about it he can cry it out in his gold bath.

I welcome the Finnish to our side. A tough people.

 

"going to assume that since all modern weapons are much bigger than Hiroshima / Nagasaki that obliteration is more likely than hideous maiming"

But that's wrong, isn't it?

Don’t Finland and Sweden have fairly significant arctic war capabilities? Given resources available there I suspect the US in particular might not be entirely altruistic in getting closer to two of the most capable militaries in the world in that specialism. Also gives NATO a lot more close proximity bases from which to bomb Russian supply lines of Russia ever attacks a NATO member

I don't blame the Fins or Swedes tbf. There's no way they can rely on the security guarantees with Alexei Boris Stanleyovich Johnsonski. He probably didn't read it, certainly doesn't understand it, and will seek to renegotiate it the moment the Russians invade. 

Also this - only more so:

 

 There's no way they can rely on the security guarantees with Alexei Boris Stanleyovich Johnsonski. He probably didn't read it, certainly doesn't understand it, and will seek to renegotiate it the moment the Russians invade. 

Seems a sensible move, but the Russians would not invade Finland anyway. Finland has one of the largest, sophisticated and experienced militaries in that part of the world.

*ruffles hair*

erm, erm, i was assured at the time of signing that entering into this mutual defence pact in no way created any enforceable defence obligations

i have now been informed that technically we were meant to help the finns out, but i must stress that this was no my understanding at the time of signing

forgive me....forgive me.....forgive me

ah, yes, i deeply regret if there are people who misunderstood my words  that we would stand by our finnish friends no matter what as being in any way a commitment to do so, but i can only stress that lessons have been learned from this episode

if you might now concentrate your attention on the dead cat that my shortarse friend with the permasmirk is now about to throw on the table i think that we can now, erm, erm, all move on from this incident

On balance I think it is unnecessarily provocative, I doubt Putin would have invade a neutral Finland anyway as he doesnt even have the figleaf of it being historically part of the Russian Empire or full of ethnic Russians or or whatever.   It is just conceivable though that he will attack if they join NATO to test NATOs resolve and deter others from joining - then the balloon goes up.

Strutter- you need to add something about how he never said he would abandon the Swedes and Fins over his dead body despite him just being shown a recording of the press conference in which he said those exact words.

Maybe also add a statement that the AG has provided advice that the security guarantee does not in fact entail a guarantee of security.  

Putin wouldn’t have invaded Finland anyway, I agree with you there. The idea of Russia embarking on another invasion when it’s performing indifferently at best in the one it’s already undertaking is absolute jokeshop.

'Erik I think we can stop now, we have reached Siberia'

Same if he tried to invade Norway or Sweden (or us probably).

The low countries would collapse easily, the Germans would pontificate and the French, well, famous Simpsons quote.

If the Russians don’t like their neighbours joining defensive alliances, then not invading them would be a start.

Vlad’s already well over the edge tbh. And however much Russian arse the Ukrainians have kicked, the Finns would unleash ten times as much kill. Ten times. If not twenty.

If there’s a conflict in the future it:

1. Renders the Baltic Russian fleet useless.

2. Makes it easy for NATO to cut off the land connection to the Russian North Fleet bases.

3. Also a short distance to St Petersburg.

Potentially Vlad’s most egregious error.

Old Poot will surely be looking over his shoulder at his domestic situation. Losing a war and getting your neighbours to join a military alliance against you is not a great showing.

Yes, that’s right hyoobert 

The side with the crushing conventional military superiority is going to deploy the nuclear option first

Do you actually read your own posts or is the quality control not even that high?