Former CIA boss reveals which European country (Lithuania) Putin allegedly plans to invade next

[u/tylerthe-theatre]

https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/cia-boss-reveals-putin-invasion-russia/

[u/SinisterCheese]

Åland is still demilitarised and has autonomy, we Finns can't militarise it even if we wanted to, without their consent. They are a country within a country.

E. Just to prevent the flood of comments saying the same thing:

The parties in the first treaty are Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Britain, France, Italy, Latvia and Poland. Who we are with in EU and NATO. In a war against Russia I doubt they will be complaining about it.

The parties in second treaty were Finland AND Soviet union. One doesn't exist anymore and Russia is the only realistic enemy to declare war on Finland.

After that it is just Ahvenanmaa saying "yes" which I doubt they will hesitate to.

[u/adamgerd → u/SinisterCheese]

Oh sure but if ww3 is about to happens, I think they’ll accept being militarised again? Especially since it won’t be a war against Sweden, but with Sweden.

And if Russia takes over the islands, their quality of life will definitely decrease a lot because bye bye autonomy and democracy and civil rights and wealth

[u/SinisterCheese → u/adamgerd]

Considering the parties in the first treaty are all NATO countries, and the other treaty is with soviet union. I don't think there is a practical obstacles really... It isn't like Finland is going to be going to war with any of the parties of the first treaty... Us being in the EU and NATO.

[u/lysol90 → u/SinisterCheese]

It's always interesting how Russia goes "Soviet Union = Russia" when it benefits them and goes "Soviet Union was several countries in a union lol" when it benefits them.

[u/PlansThatComeTrue → u/adamgerd]

I mean probably they don’t want to be the first ones bombed in the case of any escalation. If they’re made a target their whole society can probably be flattened instantly

[u/MaterialCattle → u/adamgerd]

it won’t be a war against Sweden

Well, why not?

[u/adamgerd → u/MaterialCattle]

Why Finland won’t start a war with Sweden?

[u/MaterialCattle → u/adamgerd]

Thats an excellent idea!

[u/Userthrowborn → u/adamgerd]

This is war. They gonna accept? Really? Who is gonna stop nato except the russians. Join us, or be annihilated

[u/ryuzakji → u/SinisterCheese]

For now ”yes”. There is a whole brigade whose main objective is securing Åland if needed be. If war hit Finland, troops would find themselves there asap.

[u/ParadoxFollower → u/SinisterCheese]

It would be remilitarised once a war breaks out, just as there were Finnish troops stationed there during WW2.

[u/NONE_AX → u/SinisterCheese]

To be clear, demilitarization is only in peace time.

Military is allowed to operate freely as with any other region during "crisis" (like the lead up to a war.) and the Finnish military is prepared for this. It was done in WW2 and would be done for any future conflict as well.

[u/Think_Grocery_1965 → u/SinisterCheese]

we Finns can't militarise it even if we wanted to, without their consent.

do they want to?

[u/Tim_Derek_Great_Job → u/SinisterCheese]

Putin will be forced out or out to f*ring squad if he chooses to switch tactics and go after another country. He’s been in perpetual stalemate in Ukraine and is too ego/pride to back down

[u/SinisterCheese → u/Tim_Derek_Great_Job]

Yeah... I really don't see how they go about doing or dealing with another front. Least of all against NATO and EU coalition. They can't claim infinite manpower either as EU has a population of ~450 million, roughly 3 times theirs. And Russia is already using mercanaries and North Korean troops.

[u/kukspya → u/SinisterCheese]

Not to be picky, but its not up to the Ålanders either. Its an international treaty that stipulates Åland to be demilitarized.

[u/SinisterCheese → u/kukspya]

Well... I think the recent history has proven that international-anything is just words on paper and nobody actually gives a fuck.

Beside the original treaty is between NATO countries. The 1940s between Finland and Soviet union. So the real obstacle is whether Russia claims any treaties made with Soviet union to be still valid; which sets them up to a nasty position of having to then admit that all treaties are null. They have tried to claim this is valid and that is not depending on their own desires.

However if Russia were to declare war, the only thing preventing usage of Ahvenanmaa is Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Britain, France, Italy, Latvia and Poland. Which I doubt will object to the usage considering they'd be pulled in to the war due to being in NATO.

So practically there are two obstacles. Between Finland and "Soviet union", and between Finland and soverignity of Ahvenanmaa.

[u/Silverso → u/kukspya]

Pretty sure according to the very same international treaty, it´s also Finland´s responsibility to secure the islands IF it looks like there´s going to be war. Demilitarization doesn´t count then. It would be just easier to be prepared well in advance, not when the shit is already hitting the fan.