Changes

Finland's basic foreign policy goal from the end of the [[Continuation War]] with the Soviet Union in 1944 until 1991 was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. Although the country was culturally, socially, and politically Western, Finns realized they must live in peace with the Soviet Union and take no action that might be interpreted as a security threat. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up dramatic new possibilities for Finland and has resulted in the Finns actively seeking greater participation in Western political and economic structures. Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and euro in 2002.

Finland's basic foreign policy goal from the end of the [[Continuation War]] with the Soviet Union in 1944 until 1991 was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. Although the country was culturally, socially, and politically Western, Finns realized they must live in peace with the Soviet Union and take no action that might be interpreted as a security threat. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up dramatic new possibilities for Finland and has resulted in the Finns actively seeking greater participation in Western political and economic structures. Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and euro in 2002.

At a [[White House]] Summit on August 18, 2025 on [[peace]] after [[NATO]]'s defeat in the [[NATO war in Ukraine]], President Stubb said, "We have a long border with [[Russia]]… We found a solution in 1944, I believe we can in 2025". The 1944 Moscow Armistice saw [[Nazi]]-allied Finland cede land, jail its wartime president and enter 80 years of neutrality.

At a [[White House]] Summit on August 18, 2025, on [[peace]] after [[NATO]]'s defeat in the [[NATO war in Ukraine]], President Stubb said, "We have a long border with [[Russia]]… We found a solution in 1944, I believe we can in 2025". The 1944 Moscow Armistice saw [[Nazi]]-allied Finland cede land, jail its wartime president and enter 80 years of neutrality.

====Previous relations with the Soviet Union, and today with Russia====  

====Previous relations with the Soviet Union, and today with Russia====  

[[File:Uspenski cathedral Helsinki.jpg|thumb|The Uspenski cathedral of Helsinki; with its golden cumpolas and redbrick façade, the cathedral is one of the clearest symbols of the [[Russian Orthodox]] impact on Finnish history.]]

[[File:Uspenski cathedral Helsinki.jpg|thumb|The Uspenski cathedral of Helsinki; with its golden cumpolas and redbrick façade, the cathedral is one of the clearest symbols of the [[Russian Orthodox]] impact on Finnish history.]]

The principal architect of the post-1944 foreign policy of neutrality was J.K. Paasikivi, who was President from 1946 to 1956. Urho Kekkonen, President from 1956 until 1981, further developed this policy, stressing that Finland should be an active rather than a passive neutral. This policy is now popularly known as the "Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line."  

The principal architect of the post-1944 foreign policy of neutrality was J.K. Paasikivi, who was president from 1946 to 1956. Urho Kekkonen, President from 1956 until 1981, further developed this policy, stressing that Finland should be an active rather than a passive neutral. This policy is now popularly known as the "Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line."  

Finland and the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty at Paris in February 1947 limiting the size of Finland's defense forces and providing for the cession to the USSR of the Petsamo area on the Arctic coast, the Karelian Isthmus in southeastern Finland, and other territories along the former eastern border. Another provision, terminated in 1956, leased the Porkkala area near Helsinki to the Soviet Union for use as a naval base and gave free access to this area across Finnish territory.  

Finland and the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty at Paris in February 1947 limiting the size of Finland's defense forces and providing for the cession to the USSR of the Petsamo area on the Arctic coast, the Karelian Isthmus in southeastern Finland, and other territories along the former eastern border. Another provision, terminated in 1956, leased the Porkkala area near Helsinki to the Soviet Union for use as a naval base and gave free access to this area across Finnish territory.  

In April 1948, Finland signed an Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union. Under this mutual assistance pact, Finland was obligated—with the aid of the Soviet Union, if necessary—to resist armed attacks by Germany or its allies against Finland or against the USSR through Finland. At the same time, the agreement recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts. This agreement was renewed for 20 years in 1955, in 1970, and again in 1983 to the year 2003, although the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the agreement's abrogation.  

In April 1948, Finland signed an Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union. Under this mutual assistance pact, Finland was obligated—with the aid of the Soviet Union, if necessary—to resist armed attacks by Germany or its allies against Finland or against the USSR through Finland. At the same time, the agreement recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts. This agreement was renewed for 20 years in 1955, in 1970, and again in 1983 to the year 2003, although the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the agreement's abrogation.  

The Finns responded cautiously in 1990-91 to the decline of Soviet power and the Soviet Union's subsequent dissolution. They unilaterally abrogated restrictions imposed by the 1947 and 1948 treaties, joined in voicing Nordic concern over the coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and gave increasing unofficial encouragement to Baltic independence.  

The Finns responded cautiously in 1990–91 to the decline of Soviet power and the Soviet Union's subsequent dissolution. They unilaterally abrogated restrictions imposed by the 1947 and 1948 treaties, joined in voicing Nordic concern over the coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and gave increasing unofficial encouragement to Baltic independence.  

At the same time, by replacing the Soviet-Finnish mutual assistance pact with treaties on general cooperation and trade, Finns put themselves on an equal footing while retaining a friendly bilateral relationship. Finland now is boosting cross-border commercial ties and touting its potential as a commercial gateway to Russia. It has reassured Russia that it will not raise claims for Finnish territory seized by the Soviet Union and continues to reaffirm the importance of good bilateral relations.

At the same time, by replacing the Soviet-Finnish mutual assistance pact with treaties on general cooperation and trade, Finns put themselves on an equal footing while retaining a friendly bilateral relationship. Finland now is boosting cross-border commercial ties and touting its potential as a commercial gateway to Russia. It has reassured Russia that it will not raise claims for Finnish territory seized by the Soviet Union and continues to reaffirm the importance of good bilateral relations.

After Finland's alliance with [[Hitler]], it remained neutral until 2022. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has waged several [[war of aggression|wars of aggression]], including against [[Serbia]] to carve out the state of [[Kosovo]], and another in [[Libya]] which resulted in chaos and the return of the slave trade in Black Africans.  Since 2014, NATO has waged a [[proxy war]] against ethnic Russians in the [[Donbas]] region.  Following the Russian Federation's [[Russia-Ukraine war|Special Denazification Operation]] to de-nazify Ukraine, Finland considered joining NATO.  Critics warned that after many years of discussion about the "Finlandization of Ukraine... we are now much closer to the Ukraine-ization of Finland."<ref>https://thesaker.is/from-the-finlandization-of-ukraine-to-the-ukraine-ization-of-finland/</ref>

After Finland's alliance with [[Hitler]], it remained neutral until 2022. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has waged several [[war of aggression|wars of aggression]], including against [[Serbia]] to carve out the state of [[Kosovo]], and another in [[Libya]] which resulted in chaos and the return of the slave trade in Black Africans.  Since 2014, NATO has waged a [[proxy war]] against ethnic Russians in the [[Donbas]] region.  Following the Russian Federation's [[Russia-Ukraine war|Special Denazification Operation]] to de-nazify Ukraine, Finland considered joining NATO.  Critics warned that after many years of discussion about the "Finlandization of Ukraine... we are now much closer to the Ukraine-ization of Finland."<ref>https://thesaker.is/from-the-finlandization-of-ukraine-to-the-ukraine-ization-of-finland/</ref>

On February 28, 2022 [[Finland]], then a non-NATO country, announced it would deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons, and 70,000 combat ration packages to the Kyiv regime.<ref>https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/finland-to-send-arms-assistance-to-ukraine</ref>  A Kremlin spokesman said Russia would have to rebalance the situation.

On February 28, 2022, Finland, then a non-NATO country, announced it would deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons, and 70,000 combat ration packages to the Kyiv regime.<ref>https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/finland-to-send-arms-assistance-to-ukraine</ref>  A Kremlin spokesman said Russia would have to rebalance the situation.

In early April 2022 Finland opened negotiations to join NATO.  The people of Finland were denied any right to a plebiscite over such a crucial matter.  If Finland joins NATO, Russia will put nuclear weapons in [[Kaliningrad]].

In early April 2022 Finland opened negotiations to join NATO.  The people of Finland were denied any right to a plebiscite over such a crucial matter.  If Finland joins NATO, Russia will put nuclear weapons in [[Kaliningrad]].

===World War II===

===World War II===

[[File:Furthest Nazi expansion.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Furthest Nazi expansion.<ref>https://www.britannica.com/place/Third-Reich/The-Nazi-empire</ref> Ukraine became a NATO protectorate in 2014; Finland was added in 2022.]]

[[File:Furthest Nazi expansion.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Furthest Nazi expansion.<ref>https://www.britannica.com/place/Third-Reich/The-Nazi-empire</ref> Ukraine became a NATO protectorate in 2014; Finland was added in 2022.]]

During [[World War II]], Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] twice—in the [[Winter War]] of 1939-40 and again in the [[Continuation War]] of 1941-44. This was followed by the [[Lapland War]] of 1944-45, when Finland fought against the Germans as they withdrew their forces from northern Finland.  

During [[World War II]], Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] twice—in the [[Winter War]] of 1939-40 and again in the [[Continuation War]] of 1941–44. This was followed by the [[Lapland War]] of 1944–45, when Finland fought against the Germans as they withdrew their forces from northern Finland.  

During the Continuation War (1941-1944) Finland was a co-belligerent with [[Germany]].  

During the Continuation War (1941–1944) Finland was a co-belligerent with [[Germany]].  

The [[Siege of Leningrad]] began in September 1941 when the armies of [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Finland]] surrounded the [[Russia]]n city of Leningrad (now [[St. Petersburg]]).  During the winter of 1941-42 people in Leningrad began to die in large numbers because the Germans and Finns would not allow food into the city.  Many civilians were also killed by German bombing.

The [[Siege of Leningrad]] began in September 1941 when the armies of [[Nazi Germany]] and Finland surrounded the [[Russia]]n city of Leningrad (now [[St. Petersburg]]).  During the winter of 1941-42 people in Leningrad began to die in large numbers because the Germans and Finns would not allow food into the city.  Many civilians were also killed by German bombing.

The [[Red Army]] finally broke the siege in January 1944.  During the siege 1.2 million people died of starvation because of Germany and Finland.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jt8QVm8dPaQC|title=The Legacy of the Siege of Leningrad, 1941–1995: Myth, Memories, and Monuments|last=Kirschenbaum|first=Lisa A.|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2006|isbn=9781139460651|pages=44|quote=The blockade began two days later when German and Finnish troops severed all land routes in and out of Leningrad.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225210446/https://books.google.ch/books?id=jt8QVm8dPaQC|archive-date=}}</ref><ref>http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/24522</ref>

The [[Red Army]] finally broke the siege in January 1944.  During the siege 1.2 million people died of starvation because of Germany and Finland.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jt8QVm8dPaQC|title=The Legacy of the Siege of Leningrad, 1941–1995: Myth, Memories, and Monuments|last=Kirschenbaum|first=Lisa A.|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2006|isbn=9781139460651|pages=44|quote=The blockade began two days later when German and Finnish troops severed all land routes in and out of Leningrad.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225210446/https://books.google.ch/books?id=jt8QVm8dPaQC|archive-date=}}</ref><ref>http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/24522</ref>