NATO debate Ville Tavio, group leader of the Basic Finns, turned to NATO membership – “In this situation, the benefits already outweigh the disadvantages”

Policy|NATO debate

Basic Finns Chairman of the Parliamentary Group and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Ville Tavio says it turned to support NATO military membership after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

Tavio has previously been negative about applying for membership but has kept the door open for it under the so-called NATO option.

He last said in February To HS, NATO membership is not worth considering now, despite the changed security policy situation. The matter was asked just before Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukraine, when the situation had already escalated.

“I had personally thought of it as having a small amount of it benefit of the doubt For Russia: However, if Russia does not go to war, then the world situation may not seem to require NATO membership, ”Tavio says now.

“Then I immediately had to reconsider that position. […] Finland is anything but non-aligned, and I think it is useless to talk about us remaining somehow non-aligned when that world no longer exists. ”

Tavio says he is confident that the state leadership will investigate the risks of membership, for example in connection with Russia’s possible retaliation.

The matter must proceed with calm deliberation, he says.

“It is a question in itself whether the whole of NATO is ready to take on additional members during the war in Ukraine. That will probably be clarified. ”

Basic Finns as a party is outlining its own position on the NATO issue in the near future. Party chairman Riikka Purra signaled this weekend that if and when Finland ‘s security policy requires an update, Perussuomalainen is ready for a prompt response.

Indeed, Tavio emphasizes that he is only talking about his own line, not the party. However, he says he believes many of his party comrades are leaning towards membership.

“I think there are many of them because the situation really changed in one fell swoop. There are also disadvantages to NATO, but now it must be noted that in this situation the benefits already outweigh the disadvantages. ”