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Historically, the fear of Russian expansionism has always loomed large over Finnish politics. Boasting a minuscule population of about 5.5 million in comparison to Russia’s 145 million, Finland's military capability has consistently been outnumbered. Recognizing this imbalance, Russian policymakers have worked diligently to maintain Finland in a state of political neutrality, fearing that any direct military alliances Finland might forge could significantly shift the balance of power in the region.
For more than 200 years, this strategy proved effective. However, the landscape shifted dramatically following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading Finland to reconsider its long-standing neutrality and embrace a military alliance with NATO.