Finland's heart lies in the West

Last Friday, the Scandinavian country was voted the happiest country in the world in the World Happiness Report study sponsored by the United Nations. According to one of the authors, social cohesion, the generosity of the population and the government's transparency all explain this result.

However, Finland also made headlines for a completely different reason. Public opinion in the land of happiness (which has 5.5 million very happy inhabitants and shares 1300 km of border with Russia) is leaning towards a candidacy to NATO, and this makes sense.

The historical spirit of resistance of the country (Winter War 1939-1940) and the European Union, to which it has belonged since 1995, may not be enough to defeat the Russian bear, if it were to expand its projects. All the more so since, in view of its current allegiances, it would be impossible for Finland to choose a neutral status today. In this regard, Prime Minister Sanna Marin has already announced that her country will supply arms to Ukraine. 

Drawing by Amandine Victor