Support For NATO Membership Among Finnish Officers Tops 90%

More than 90% of Finnish military officers taking part in a survey by the Association of Officers expressed support for the Nordic country's membership in the NATO defence alliance, Yle reports.

• The Association circulated the survey among all of its members (almost all Finnish officers) and a third of them submitted responses. While the credibility of these results might be challenged if judged against rigorous statistical standards, they are indicative of a clearly observable broader shift in sentiment.
• A slew of polls conducted since Russia's invasion on Ukraine pointed to a rapid growth in public support for joining NATO in both Finland and Sweden. The poll taken by Finland's Association of Officers suggests that this dynamic is also reflected in the mood of the nation's military elite.
• Last Tuesday, Finland's Finance Minister announced that an additional EUR200mn will be allocated for national defence in this spring's supplementary budget and pledged further EUR2bn of investment in defence over the next four years. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Marin said Finland intends to decide on NATO membership by the summer.