How Putin pushed Finland to join NATO
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 5 April 2023
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Finland just joined NATO. Sweden is waiting in the wings. Will this beefed-up security alliance — a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — be enough to keep President Vladimir Putin at bay?
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On Monday, Finland officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) making it the 31st member of the alliance. Finland, which historically stayed neutral throughout the Cold War, felt inspired to join after witnessing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and they’re not the only country that has asked to join. Sweden has also requested to join NATO, but their application has faced resistance from Turkey.
Today on Post Reports, Brussels bureau chief Emily Rauhala explains the significance of Finland’s ascent into NATO, and what that could mean for European security and the relationship between Western countries and Russia at a critical moment in the war in Ukraine.
Plus, check out Post Reports in person: best-selling author Curtis Sittenfeld is in conversation with host Martine Powers in Washington, D.C. Join the discussion live at Sixth & I or take advantage of the virtual live stream.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, it's Martine. |
| 0:04.4 | Before today's show begins, I just want to remind you about a chance to experience post-reports |
| 0:10.0 | live in person. |
| 0:11.9 | On April 13th, I will be on stage in DC having a conversation with the best-selling author, |
| 0:17.2 | Curtis and Feld. |
| 0:18.6 | Curtis is one of my favorite writers. |
| 0:20.3 | You probably know her from Unipromany novels, Rotem, Prep, Eligible. |
| 0:24.6 | She's got a new one out called Romantic Comedy and it is so delightful. |
| 0:29.4 | It's my favorite book that I've read in quite a while. |
| 0:32.2 | So I'll be talking to her about that, but also about her and about her career and what |
| 0:36.8 | it's like writing for an audience that is just desperate for something that feels good |
| 0:41.8 | in the midst of so much bad news. |
| 0:44.6 | The conversation will be on April 13th at 7pm in Washington, DC at 6th and I in partnership |
| 0:50.9 | with Politics and Pros. |
| 0:52.6 | This event will also be live streamed, so there's still an option to be a part of it, even |
| 0:56.3 | if you can't make it to DC, can purchase tickets at 6th and I dot org. |
| 1:01.6 | That's 6th and I, the letter I, dot org. |
| 1:05.2 | We'll also have more details in our show notes. |
| 1:08.0 | Thank you and I hope to see you there. |
| 1:12.0 | When Russia invaded Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin was making a big bet about how power |
| 1:19.0 | works in Europe. |
| 1:25.8 | To justify the war, Putin cited the possible expansion of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty |
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