Is Finland going to become the new Ukraine?

 FIRST NATO, NOW U.S. TROOPS AND BASES

IRRATIONAL DECISIONS FROM HELSINKI

While we see the dwindling expectations of Ukraine becoming a NATO member, we see Finland stepping up to take their place. After decades of reasonable relations and cross border trade, one must wonder what the advantage is for Finland to now decide to become a NATO member. Is this a reasonable and objective decision or just another emotional hope of becoming accepted by the crowd. 

With GDP of just over $300 billion it will now need to spend at least $6 billion in upgrading its military by buying U.S. manufactured weapons. At the same time it is in effect ending all commerce with Russia for the foreseeable future. Russia considers this move to be a hostile act and is in the process of strengthening its military presence on their 833 mile border. With a population of just over 5 million it would be near impossible to police their border without foreign troops. It is also very possible that Russia will set up a defense corridor with mines and electronic surveillance.

Russia is also perplexed by this decision, as Finland has no real value to Russia, Russia has enough timber, it does not need Finish lumber. While Russia does consider this a hostile act, they will unlikely consider any military action against Finland, but it can be expected that Russia will make things more difficult for Finland.

The real problem would arise if NATO would decide to use Finland as a staging ground and to open a northern front in an invasion of Russia. A real possibility due to the vehemence of the antipathy against Russia in Washington and London. Once foreign troops and bases are placed in Finland they will probably lose the ability to chart their own future. Any such development would be devastating to the people of Finland.

In the age of "you are either for us or our enemy" it seems Finland has hitched its wagon to NATO and placed it future in the hands of western decision makers. It is hard to see the positive results of this decision.