Russia vows response as Finland seeks Nato membership without delay

Finland said on Thursday it would apply to join Nato "without delay", with Sweden expected to follow, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine looked set to bring about the very expansion of the Western military alliance that Vladimir Putin aimed to prevent.

The decision by the two Nordic countries to abandon the neutrality they maintained throughout the Cold War would be one of the biggest shifts in European security in decades. Finland's announcement angered the Kremlin, which called it a direct threat to Russia and threatened an unspecified response, reports Reuters.

It came even as Russia's war in Ukraine was suffering another big setback, with Ukrainian forces driving Russian troops out of the region around the second largest city Kharkiv, the fastest Ukrainian advance since forcing Russia to withdraw from the capital and northeast more than a month ago.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Finns would be "warmly welcomed" and promised an accession process that would be "smooth and swift".

A Bloomberg report on Thursday said with Russian aggression suddenly changing perceptions in Europe of regional threats, countries including Germany have switched toward rearmament, Sweden's neighbour Denmark is holding a referendum on joining the European Union's military cooperation, and Nato is boosting its deterrence in the east.

Nato allies are expected to unanimously back any bids by Finland and Sweden, diplomats said. The membership bids would need to be ratified by Nato countries' parliaments, a process that can take months, before they gain entry and begin to enjoy collective defence commitments under Article 5, adds the report.

Finland and Sweden are the two biggest EU countries yet to join Nato. Finland's 1,300km border will more than double the length of the frontier between the US-led alliance and Russia, putting Nato guards a few hours' drive from the northern outskirts of St Petersburg.

"Finland must apply for Nato membership without delay," President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement. "We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days."

Asked whether Finland's accession posed a direct threat to Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "Definitely. Nato expansion does not make our continent more stable and secure.

"This cannot fail to arouse our regret, and is a reason for corresponding symmetrical responses on our side," Peskov added, without elaborating. Russian officials have spoken in the past about potential measures including stationing nuclear-armed missiles on the Baltic Sea.

Asked on Wednesday if Finland would provoke Russia by joining Nato, Niinisto said, "My response would be that you caused this. Look at the mirror."

Five diplomats and officials told Reuters that Nato allies expect both countries to be granted membership quickly, paving the way for an increased troop presence in the Nordic region to defend them during a one-year ratification period.

Will have no impact on Bangladesh's export to EU

Finland and Sweden joining Nato will have no impact on Bangladesh's export to EU countries, Faruque Hassan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) told The Business Standard.

He does not think the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war would extend to any other country as Russia has some specific issues with Ukraine.

"While the EU and the USA are our largest business partners, Bangladesh also has business with Russia," he said.

"Bangladesh wants to do business with every one and Russia is one of the emerging export markets for us. We want to get duty free market access to the Russian market," said the BGMEA chief.

On the Ukraine-Russia war situation, Professor Delwar Hossain, international relations analyst and member of Bangladesh Public Service Commission said, "Both sides at this point want the conflict to end."

Russia has been against the Nato stance on expanding their presence and Russia's neighbouring countries joining the US-led bloc is essentially exerting pressure on Moscow, he said.

"I think the western countries and the Nato allies have adopted an all-out strategy where they want to expand the bloc's strength," Delwar Hossain said, adding that perhaps the latest development indicates the cold war is set to linger on.