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| Relying on 64 F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets, Finland is Ready To Fight Russia If Attacked |
Helsinki - Finland is strengthening its military with four warships, 64 F-35 stealth fighter jets and a fleet of drones, in preparation for becoming a member of NATO. The country's military stands ready to fight Russia if attacked.
Finland and fellow Nordic countries; Sweden, is seeking to join the US-led military alliance in the near future. The move marks a major policy shift for the two countries following Russia's decision to invade Ukraine since February 24.
Amid Russia's warnings of serious political consequences if the countries join NATO, Finland's Armed Forces Chief General Timo Kivinen told Reuters the country was ready to fight Russia if attacked. Finland and Russia share an 800-mile border.
The country has ordered four new warships and 64 F-35 fighter jets from US aerospace, weapons, defense, information security and technology companies; Lockheed Martin. Finland also plans to buy as many as 2,000 drones and high-altitude anti-aircraft equipment.
Quoted from Reuters, Kivinen said Finland would be motivated to go to war if Russia attacked. "The most important line of defense is between one's ears, as the current war in Ukraine proves.
On April 5, Finland announced that it would increase its defense spending by €2.2 billion over the next four years, including by €788 million next year, and then by €408 million per year until 2026. This marks approximately 70 percent increase in the previous defense budget.
Global Fire Power, a military analysis website, estimates that Finland currently has 23,000 active military personnel, 900,000 reserve military personnel and 200 tanks. “We have systematically developed our military defenses appropriate for the type of warfare that is being waged there [in Ukraine], with the massive use of weapons, armored troops as well as the Air Force,” Kivinen said.
"Ukraine has become a tough bite to chew [for Russia] and so has Finland," he added. The Kremlin has said it will respond to Finland's move to become a NATO member. "Russia will be forced to take retaliatory measures, both military-technical and other in nature, to stop emerging threats to its national security," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Finland began discussions to apply for NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine began February 24. Joining the military alliance after decades of military non-alignment would mark a major shift in Finland's security policy and a dramatic shift in Europe's security landscape. NATO leaders will meet later this month in Madrid, where Sweden and Finland's NATO applications are expected to be discussed.