Three NATO warships arrived in the southwestern Finnish port of of Turku on Monday to train with Finland’s navy as Helsinki considers the possibility of joining the U.S.-led alliance amid increased tensions with Russia over Ukraine.
Highlights
- Three NATO warships arrived in the southwestern Finnish port of of Turku on Monday to train with Finland’s navy.
- Latvian minelayer LVNS Virsaitis and minehunters Estonian ENS Sakala and Dutch HNLMS Schiedam will train.
- The two-day exercise, set to commence on April 28, will prepare the Finnish ships to take part in NATO response forces in 2022.
- Finland and neighbouring Sweden are close partners with NATO but have shied away from joining the 30-member alliance.
- Finland shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) land border with Russia, prompting angry response from Russia.