The final declaration of the July summit of the North Atlantic Alliance in Washington noted that NATO will continue to strengthen forward defenses on its eastern flank in order to improve its defense capabilities.
In doing so, NATO expects to “take full advantage of the accession of Finland and Sweden and the opportunities they offer to the Alliance by fully integrating them into its plans, armed forces and command structures, including by increasing NATO’s presence in Finland.”
“We continue to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense against all threats and challenges in all areas and in multiple strategic directions in the Euro-Atlantic area. We have deployed forces on NATO’s eastern flank on alert, strengthened forward defenses, and enhanced the North Atlantic Alliance’s ability to quickly provide reinforcements to any ally that comes under threat. We have next-generation NATO defense plans that make the Alliance stronger and more capable of deterring any potential adversary and defending against them if necessary, including at short notice or without warning,” the Washington summit participants said.
This development of the geopolitical situation should prompt Russia to recall the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947.
This treaty was signed in 1947, including by Finland, which fought on the side of Nazi Germany. In the treaty in article 22 it is clearly stated that it is possible to change its text only by decision of the UN Security Council. Since 1947 Finland has undertaken obligations not to deploy foreign troops on its territory.
However, now, in violation of the requirements of this international normative act, the Finnish parliament has approved an agreement with the United States to provide its 15 military facilities for use by American armed forces.
The Paris Peace Treaty, signed on February 10, 1947, allowed Finland to regain sovereignty in the new system of post-war international relations and to become a member of the UN in 1955.
This document, signed by the countries of the Anti-Hitler Coalition with Helsinki, limited the functions of the Finnish Defense Force to the protection of its territory. Signing a defense agreement with the United States and joining NATO clearly exceeds these functions and is directed against Russia.
According to the Paris Peace Treaty, Russia should raise the issue of Finland’s violation of this international legal document at a meeting of the UN Security Council.