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[–]United States of Americacitizen_coping -17 points-16 points-15 points  (26 children)
Yeah I'm sure that will really help on the Global scale... that's the same as if a Canadian Province did the same, such a small force compared to what we have.
[–]FinlandDufvaSven 14 points15 points16 points  (23 children)
Buy a map.
[–]United States of Americacitizen_coping comment score below threshold-18 points-17 points-16 points  (22 children)
Yep, just bought one... Finland seems to have only 5-6 million people... is that right? That can't be right.
Many of the 50 states in America alone have more than Finland alone.
[–]FinlandDufvaSven 15 points16 points17 points  (14 children)
How many US states close the Gulf of Finland isolating the Baltic Sea Fleet? How many US states provide airfields for direct access to the Barents Sea? How many US states border Russia?
And if you believe the number of troops has some relevance for NATO, the number is a reserve of 900 000 with a war time strength of 230 000. More than most of Europe.
[–]United States of Americacitizen_coping comment score below threshold-19 points-18 points-17 points  (13 children)
I understand you guys put up a good fight back in WW2... fighting off the Soviets... but let's be real... you guys would be cannon fodder if the Russians decided to attack again. We don't need you, we have bases and missile installations all over Europe, you guys would probably just get in the way, honestly. But you guys need us, as the equalizer, to make sure nobody goes all Hitler or Stalin again.
[–]Finlandkuikuilla 15 points16 points17 points  (12 children)
What on earth makes you think we would be cannon fodder against Russia? Are you just ignorant?
[–]Great FinlandRagegar 12 points13 points14 points  (0 children)
Have you not heard of Putin's red button? It instantly vaporizes whole continents, without use of nuclear weaponry. There is literally nothing anybody can realistically do if Russia wanted to invade the whole world. Russians are so though they don't need water/food/warmth, but europeans will surrender if even one civilian has to be couple days without electricity. It's common knowledge.
[–]Romaniactudor 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
Are you? You seriously think USA could fully defend a direct attack from Russia? You're insane if you think that. /s
[–]United States of Americacitizen_coping comment score below threshold-6 points-5 points-4 points  (8 children)
Are you? You seriously think Finland could defend a direct attack from Russia? You're insane if you think that.
[–]Finlandkuikuilla 10 points11 points12 points  (5 children)
Why would it be insane to think that? We have a modern airforce, modern anti air systems, modern tanks, modern anti tank systems, best artillery force in Europe, capable soldiers and enough supplies for them. We'd defend ourselves just fine unless the Russians throw the entire Leningrad military district at us (which would leave most of their western european borders undefended).
[–]Israelstrl [score hidden]  (4 children)
I don't want to agree with the obvious troll but it would be surprising if you managed to fend them off, even in the winter war it was surprising what you managed to achieve and to be honest, you still lost in the end.
[–]Finlandkuikuilla [score hidden]  (1 child)
Winter war has nothing to do with today, what happened then is irrelevant. I'm just asking for some insight and reasoning to your opinions on "Russia roflstomps everyone".
[–]EstoniaLewisPuller [score hidden]  (1 child)
Except the finns wouldn't be alone, since the EU has defemse provisions also, which promise military aid.
[–]FinlandRassyM 6 points7 points8 points  (0 children)
Finnish defense is based on the notion of making war so expensive for an invader that they would never choose that option. Finnish defense is 100% defensive warfare only. We actually have a defense that meets this goal quite successfully even without NATO help. The goal in a situation of war is to protect, and make advances by the enemy problematic, wasteful and expensive in order to drive our leaders to sit down at the treaty table instead.
However, this doesn't mean we don't see the good sides in joining alliances. A lot of people here in Finland have started to favor a NATO membership after recent intimidation from east. The reason why we haven't so far is the perception by many that smaller NATO members end up fighting in wars started by representatives of the bigger members, e.g. Bush triggering Article 5 after 9/11, or how Erdogan was thinking of triggering it in 2012 are often used in NATO-membership debating in Finland.
[–]EstoniaLewisPuller [score hidden]  (0 children)
Finland is much more defensible than the Baltics, since they have their own tanks and jets
[–]United States of AmericaKahzootoh 7 points8 points9 points  (5 children)
Actually, Finnish membership in Nato would probably be the end of Russia's ability to actually defend itself from a Nato conventional attack. Before you say "they're too small to be much help", hear me out.
The great advantage of Finland isn't its endless armies of soldiers, but rather its excellent position. The Finnish border with Russia is so large that it effectively would allow Nato to encircle Moscow. Russia only has about 200,000 soldiers, and having to be ready to counter a Nato rush of forces into Finland would literally stretch the Russian military to its breaking point. If Finland is part of Nato, the amount of space that the Russians now have to worry about just expanded exponentially given that the Russian artic and Northern fleet have also simultaneously become within Nato striking distance.
Right now the only Nato-Russian border is the narrow corridor of the Baltics. With Finland in Nato, Russia is put on the back foot as Nato forces can flank any Russian offensive towards the core of Europe.
[–]Israelstrl [score hidden]  (0 children)
the narrow corridor of the Baltics.
Assuming they'd be dumb enough not to push through Ukraine or Belarus.
[–]insane russian imperialistz651 -2 points-1 points0 points  (2 children)
And what would Russia gain from an offensive towards Europe's core?
[–]mkvgtired [score hidden]  (0 children)
We heard the same argument before Russia formally admitted it invaded Ukraine twice.
[–]GeorgiaNK-AK [score hidden]  (0 children)
Russia only has about 200,000 soldiers
Ground forces have 230K troops alone but you should add Airborne troops,Marines and National guard to it. Number will double.
Also needles to say that if Russia feels threatened, they will call in millions of cannon fodders. Za rodzinu,Za Putinu.
Actually, Finnish membership in Nato would probably be the end of Russia's ability to actually defend itself from a Nato conventional attack.
Russian army is tailor made for exactly such kind of attack. (this is why they suck in conventional conflicts). Front line stretched over thousands of KMs, where Russian artillery and tanks will feel like fish in a water.
Also don't forget that,just like in good old days, Russia has huuuge strategic depth, they can easily continue fighting even if enemy somehow reaches A-A line.
[–]Whaapwhaap2 [score hidden]  (0 children)
Why can't it be right? Did the American education system teach you that there is a minimum threshold a place needs to have before it can call itself country? Questions
[–]myReddit555 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
Well, all the Canadian provinces (and territories) do have a "security deal" with the US, so you shouldn't mind if Finland does as well.
[–]United States of Americanounhud [score hidden]  (0 children)
Based on the relative sizes of our respective direct hot conflicts with Russia, Finland's probably got more grounds to ask for our bona fides than the other way around.
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