The Nordic country has created a significant arsenal. But in addition to military equipment, said General Timo Kivinen, a crucial factor is that the Finns will be motivated to fight. “The most important line of defense is between someone’s ears, as the war in Ukraine is proving right now,” Kivinen said in an interview. Finland fought two wars in the 1940s against its eastern neighbor, with whom it shares a 1,300-kilometer (810-mile) border. Once a non-aligned country, it is now applying to join NATO’s military alliance amid concerns that Russia could invade Ukraine, as it did on February 24. Since World War II, Helsinki has maintained a high level of military readiness. “We have systematically developed our military defense precisely for this type of war being waged there. [in Ukraine]”with the massive use of firepower, armored forces and also air forces,” Kivinen said. “Ukraine was a difficult bite to chew on [for Russia]and so would Finland. “ One hundred thousand Finns were killed during the two wars that Finland fought against the Soviet Union and lost one tenth of its territory. The nation of 5.5 million has a force of 280,000 wartime troops, with 870,000 trained as reserves. It did not abolish military service for men as many other Western nations did after the end of the Cold War. It has also built one of Europe’s most powerful artillery arsenals and is equipped with cruise missiles with a range of up to 370 km (230 miles). It spends 2% of its GDP on defense, a level higher than many NATO countries. It orders four new warships, as well as 64 F-35 fighter jets from US defense giant Lockheed Martin. It plans to order up to 2,000 drones and develop its own high-altitude anti-aircraft equipment and build dams on its border with Russia. Eighty-two percent of those polled by the defense ministry on May 18 said they would be willing to join the national defense if Finland were attacked. However, Kivinen welcomed Finland’s decision to apply for NATO membership. Finland and Sweden are in talks with Turkey to discuss their opposition to their demands. Ankara is outraged by the support of Helsinki and Stockholm for Kurdish fighters and the arms embargo on Turkey. NATO membership will allow Finland to strengthen its early warning capability by participating in joint alliance airspace control, Kivinen said. Finland will also benefit from being prevented from being part of an alliance in which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members, he said. However, he said, “Finland’s main responsibility for Finland’s defense will continue to be with Finland.”
