Best way to avoid war is to talk less and prepare more - Finnish President
President of Finland Alexander Stubb (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Sweden and Finland, as new members of NATO, are expected to play a crucial role in bolstering peace efforts and tempering war rhetoric while simultaneously preparing for it, according to the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb.
Stubb, who is on an official visit to Stockholm, seized the opportunity to discuss defense matters, particularly the Western military rhetoric, which, according to him, has become quite aggressive recently.
"The best way to avoid war is to talk less and prepare more. I think you feel the same way. It is understandable. Our screens are filled with wars in Europe and the Middle East," he said.
The President of Finland added that such rhetoric could easily undermine the sense of security and belief in the future among the younger generation.
"Finland and Sweden have an important role to play in promoting peace," he said, adding that, although "it sounds paradoxical," it is exactly "why we want a strong military and why we joined NATO."
"It is impossible to overstate the importance that we were able to take this step together. Nor the value of keeping each other informed, day and night, at all levels. The situation was critical, and we acted accordingly," he said.
NATO prepares for potential escalations
When Russia carried out a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland, previously relatively neutral, announced their intention to join NATO, fearing they could be the next targets of the Kremlin.
In 2022, Finland became the 31st member of NATO, but Sweden needed another year to resolve issues with Türkiye and Hungary, which were reluctant to ratify Stockholm's application to join the alliance.
Last year, Bild, citing secret NATO military documents, reported that the alliance was preparing for a Russian invasion. Consequently, the North Atlantic Alliance developed various war scenarios against Russia.
Later, NATO's Military Committee Chairman, Admiral Rob Bauer, stated that the alliance needs transformation, and the West must prepare for an era where anything can happen anytime, including the outbreak of war.
