Germany's Full Rearmament Amid Finland's NATO Accession Deliberation... Major Shift in European Security

Neutral countries like Switzerland face NATO membership controversy
Poland "Open to review if US requests nuclear deployment"
Hungary and Serbia balance between overt pro-Russian stance and neutrality

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] European countries, whose security concerns have reached a peak since World War II due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have significantly revised their traditional foreign policy principles. Even traditionally neutral countries are actively considering abandoning their neutrality policies and joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Germany, which has declared a pacifist stance, is undergoing a major rearmament, signaling a tectonic shift in diplomatic and security landscapes.

◆Finland "Parliament to Review NATO Membership This Month"

According to the British Guardian on the 4th (local time), Finnish President Sauli Niinist? reportedly requested NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a phone call on the 28th of last month to send procedures and details for new NATO membership.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto also stated in an interview with major foreign media, "We have discussed the possibility of Finland joining NATO with almost all NATO member countries, and we will submit a review document to the parliament by mid-April to discuss the membership issue."

Until January this year, Finland had stated that it had no plans to join NATO to avoid provoking Russia, but reversed its position due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A recent public opinion poll by Finnish public broadcaster YLE showed that 62% of Finnish citizens support NATO membership.

Similarly, Sweden, a neighboring country that has maintained a neutral policy since World War II, is actively considering NATO membership. According to the Financial Times (FT), Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on the 30th of last month, "I do not rule out NATO membership in any way," adding, "A review of national security policy is underway."

FT also reported that even small neutral countries like Switzerland and Austria, which do not border Russia, as well as Ireland, which has maintained neutral diplomacy, are seeing growing public opinion demanding NATO membership.

◆Poland Welcomes US Nuclear Deployment

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Germany and Poland, which have emphasized pacifism and denuclearization since World War II, are declaring active rearmament and seeking to strengthen their positions as military centers of NATO and the EU.

Deutsche Welle (DW) quoted German Defense Ministry officials on the day, reporting, "The German government is reviewing the introduction of the US and Israeli missile defense systems Arrow-3 and Iron Dome and is scheduled to receive a briefing from Israel soon," adding, "This is part of preliminary discussions for the additional military expenditure of 100 billion euros (approximately 134 trillion won) that the German government is promoting."

Germany has maintained a pacifist stance, conscious of the stigma of being a World War II aggressor nation, but has shifted to full rearmament due to the Ukraine crisis. The German government plans to increase defense spending from the previous level of about 1.5% of GDP to over 2% and actively modernize outdated weapons.

Poland, a neighboring country bordering Russia, has even hinted at the possibility of nuclear armament. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczy?ski said in an interview with the German daily Die Welt the day before, "If the US requests the deployment of nuclear weapons in Poland, we will openly consider it, which would significantly increase the containment power against Russia," emphasizing, "We must establish a NATO operational command headquarters in Poland to send a clear signal to Moscow."

◆Hungary and Serbia Walk a Tightrope

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Hungary and Serbia, traditional pro-Russian countries in Eastern Europe, are advocating a superficial neutrality policy while trying to gain practical benefits from both sides.

In Hungary's general election held the day before, pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orb?n won, securing a fourth term. According to CNN, Orb?n openly flaunted his friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin as recently as January and even publicly mentioned the possibility of leaving the EU, but in this election, he emphasized a neutrality policy.

The Hungarian government superficially supports the EU's sanctions against Russia after the Ukraine war but is firmly opposed to the Russian energy embargo. It also firmly refuses the transit of weapons from other countries through its territory to Ukraine.

In neighboring Serbia, pro-Russian President Aleksandar Vu?i? was re-elected. The Serbian government joined the UN resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine but has not participated in the EU's sanctions against Russia.