Russia will closely monitor the change in the configuration of forces in Finland. This was stated in an exclusive interview with Izvestia by Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Alexander Grushko.
Asked about the need to strengthen Russia’s defense infrastructure on the border with Finland after NATO expansion, the senior diplomat noted that “of course” this should be done.
“It is clear that this is not a one-time process, but decisions will be made. Some of them have already been accepted. Security in this region will be provided by the Leningrad Military District and the Karelian Corps,” he recalled.
Grushko noted that during the ratification of the protocol on Finland’s accession to the bloc, no withdrawals were made. Although at the time of preparation of these documents, the conversation was about the application of the Norwegian model.
According to him, “this is a serious deterioration of regional and pan-European security, where it will be necessary to look not only for answers to political challenges, but also to formulate these answers with military-technical measures.” It is also clear that the admission of Finland to the alliance will “fuel NATO’s militaristic ambitions in the North and in the Arctic zone, undermining the very basis for international cooperation on a constructive basis in these regions.”
On Tuesday, April 4, Finland handed over documents on joining NATO to the United States and officially became the 31st member of the alliance. The ceremony was attended by Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Read more in the exclusive interview of Alexander Grushko to Izvestia:
“The risks of a clash between Russia and NATO are growing”
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