DISINFO: Irrational decision to join NATO will bring down the Finnish economy
SUMMARY
Finland made a big mistake in breaking relations with Russia due to its membership in NATO. It was an irrational decision. Now, without support from Russia, the Finnish economy will crumble.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative portraying Finland's decision to join NATO as an irrational and economically incorrect.
Finland did not break relations with Russia, but it recognized that the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 fundamentally changed its own security environment.
The Finnish government provided official arguments for NATO membership:
NATO membership will strengthen stability and security in Finland and throughout the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe. Finland’s strong defence capabilities and resilience to crises will also strengthen NATO and the collective defence of the Alliance.
Before Finland's decision to join NATO, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, sanctions imposed on Russia, and Russia's self-imposed import embargo already affected the trade relationship between Finland and Russia.
Back in 2021, Russia was only in the fifth position among Finland's largest trade partners after Germany, Sweden, the United States, and the Netherlands. At that time, Russia comprised only 5.3 per cent of Finland’s total exports, and since that time both exports and imports have declined greatly. Despite of this, Finland's economy was growing in 2022, and is not showing any signs of 'crumbling.'
See other cases of disinformation targeting Finland’s (and Sweden’s) decision to join NATO: Every Finn and Swede have a target painted on their foreheads; Sweden and Finland may not have time to join NATO before it collapses; Finland’s decision to join NATO is inadequate: it cannot live without Russian energy.