[Stagnant]

The decision to join NATO has had overwhelming support among the general population throughout the process. Over 80% of the population were in favor of joining when we applied for membership last year and the opinions have stayed around the same. According to a poll conducted in early february this year, 82% were in favor, 10% undecided and 8% against. Parliament votes were 184-7 last month when they approved the membership.

Joining NATO is widely regarded as the safe and rational choice. Russia already saw Finland as part of "the west" and Russia's attack on Ukraine meant that our international relations with them were pretty much destroyed. Staying out of NATO made no sense from that point onward. Why try to stay "neutral" with no formal defense pact, when Russia viewed us as hostile anyway?

So yeah, I would say that the vast majority of Finns feel safer now, and becoming a NATO member has been seen as a positive thing overall.

[veeti]

> Parliament votes were 184-7 last month when they approved the membership.

Most of the seven were also not re-elected in Sunday's election.

[foverzar]

> Russia already saw Finland as part of "the west"

> Why try to stay "neutral" with no formal defense pact, when Russia viewed us as hostile anyway?

Good point, thanks for that perspective. Was there hypothetically any way Russia could signal if it was not the case though?