DISINFO: Finland’s membership of NATO breaks a treaty with Russia
SUMMARY
Finland’s membership of NATO is illegal because there are some international documents that forbid it. For example, the Treaty on the Foundations of Relations of 1992 and several other treaties.
RESPONSE
This is a disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets about Finland and Sweden’s application for membership of NATO.
In reality, Finland’s membership of NATO would not violate the Treaty on the Foundations of Relations, signed between Helsinki and Moscow in 1992. Article 4 of this treaty says that both countries shall not use or allow the use of their territories for armed aggression against each other. This treaty replaced the Finnish-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, signed in 1948.
Finland decided to apply for NATO membership after Russia unleashed a war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. By doing so, Helsinki is aiming to protect itself from an eventual Russian attack. Finland intends to enhance its defence, not prepare for aggression against Russia.
While accusing Finland of breaking international agreements, Russia itself violated many important international documents by attacking Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine since 2014 and again large-scale in 2022. Among these are at least the UN Charter (Chapter VI: Pacific Settlement of Disputes), the 1975 Helsinki Final Act (its provisions on peaceful settlement of disputes, inviolability of frontiers and territorial integrity of States), as well as many Georgia-Russia and Ukraine-Russia treaties and agreements.
Read more disinformation narratives claiming that NATO is posing a threat to Russia.
Technical remark: This disinformation was broadcast via Riafan and others on 11 May 2022. Due to the EU decision to temporarily restrict the spread and dissemination of some Russian media, access to the link may not work inside the EU.