Setback for Putin: Sweden and Finland accelerate their entry into NATO 5:52
(CNN Spanish) --
This is a look at Finland, the easternmost of the Nordic countries in Europe, which borders Sweden, Norway and Russia.
About Finland
(data from CIA World Factbook)
Area:
338,145 square kilometers
Population:
5,601,547 (2022 estimate)
Average age:
42.8 years
advertising
Capital:
Helsinki
Ethnic groups:
Finnish 92%, followed by Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Roma and Sami
Unemployment:
6.63% (2019 estimate)
Finland seizes works of art that were going back to Russia 0:39
Other data
For centuries the territory of Finland was controlled by Sweden and later by Russia, although it does not share a language or ethnic origin with the Swedes or the Russians.
It achieved complete independence in 1917.
In World War II, Finland maintained its independence by first cooperating with Germany to deal with attacks from the Soviet Union.
Upon the end of the war, she reached an agreement with the Soviets and severed her relations with the Germans.
Finland declared itself neutral during the Cold War, maintaining ties with both blocs as it evolved from an agrarian and forestry economy to a diversified industrial economy with a strong technology sector.
It joined the European Union in 1995. In recent years Finland has also been discussing internally its possible entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and threats from Moscow, the Finnish government has stated its intentions to speed up the process.
A view of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.
Chronology
12th to 19th centuries -
Finland is first a province and then a grand duchy under Swedish control.
1809 -
The country becomes a grand duchy of Russia, with greater autonomy.
1917 -
Independence of Finland.
1939 -
The Soviet Union invades Finland in the context of a series of border disputes between the two countries.
The Winter War would continue until 1940.
1941 to 1944 -
Without joining the Axis, Finland begins to cooperate militarily with Germany to recapture territories lost to the Soviet Union.
1944 -
Finland and the USSR sign peace, after which the Finns go to war with Germany to expel its troops deployed in the country.
1947 to 1991 -
Pressured by its long border with the USSR and recent history, Finland declared itself neutral during the Cold War, maintaining relations with both blocs and neither opposing nor allying with the Soviets.
Meanwhile, it evolved from an agrarian and forestry economy to a diversified industrial economy, achieving a high international profile precisely because of its neutrality, which made the country the venue for international summits between leaders of both blocs.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on October 25, 2021. (Credit: JUSSI NUKARI/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)
1994 -
Finland begins to cooperate with NATO, joining the Partnership for Peace (PfP) initiatives and then, in 1997, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC).
1995 -
Finland joins the European Union, and in 1999 also adopts the euro.
2014 -
Becomes one of six countries that are not NATO members but are part of the alliance's Interoperability Initiative (PII), contributing "significantly" to its operations.
February 2022 -
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO announces a strengthening of its cooperation with Finland and Sweden, which includes political dialogues, information exchange, training and joint actions, among other measures.
April 2022 -
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said her country's parliament will discuss possible NATO membership, adding that she hopes these discussions will be concluded "before the summer solstice".
Finland