In Helsinki, debates on NATO membership continue smoothly, before an imminent vote

Caroline Baudry (special envoy to Helsinki), edited by Solène Leroux with AFP 8:17 p.m., May 16, 2022

Vladimir Putin warned Monday afternoon: Finland's and Sweden's NATO membership is not a threat in itself, but Russia will react to military deployments.

The Russian president reacted as two new countries are set to join the Atlantic Alliance due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Sweden formalized its candidacy on Monday, Finland has already done so on Sunday.

In Helsinki, where the historic session in Parliament continues smoothly in the huge columned building in the center of the city, Finnish MPs have been marching to the rostrum of the hemicycle since Monday morning.

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It is an extremely calm parliamentary session and without debate, notes a Finnish deputy, since the elected officials are almost unanimous on the desire to join NATO, regardless of the Russian declarations of the day.

"I think that's normal rhetoric for them. That's what they say every year to all the countries that make their own decisions to join NATO. I don't think anyone here was surprised to this answer. There is no panic or anything", assures the elected official at the microphone of Europe 1.

A vote on Tuesday or Wednesday

"But of course, you have to be honest, it's not a decision without risk," she continues.

The risk of military tension or the nuclear threat which pushes a small handful of deputies of his own party, the Left Alliance, to oppose membership in vain.

Speeches will continue here until 2am, before a historic vote on Tuesday or Wednesday.

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For its part, Turkey affirmed on Monday evening that Turkey will not "give in" on the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO.