Finland: Lappeenranta authorities mull offering city's airport to NATO for military base

As war between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate unabated, authorities in Finland's Lappeenranta are contemplating offering city's airport to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to establish a military base re. Notably, Lappeenranta city is located in Finland's South Karelia, around 30 kilometres from Russian border.

"re are proposals regarding city's airport after Finland joins military alliance. airport will be available if Defense Forces want it," city's mayor Kimmo Järva said, Finnish media outlet - Yle Uutiset reported. 

mayor furr claimed that Lappeenranta has not yet discussed with country's Defense Ministry regarding investments that a potential NATO membership would bring. Jarva remarked that South Karelia has a reason for hope owing to vancement in Finnish bid for NATO membership. He also expressed hope that someday Russians will be allowed again to visit region, as NATO membership would have no effect on travel of ordinary people. During its Mrid summit on June 29, NATO formally invited Sweden and Finland to join intergovernmental military alliance. 

Finland announced its intention to join NATO in May

Earlier in May, Finnish ministration officially announced country's intention to join military alliance. Speaking at a joint press conference on May 15, Finland's President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin me announcement in Helsinki. "This is a historic day. A new era begins," Niinisto stated, as per Associated Press (AP).  debate over Finland's potential NATO membership h intensified in early April as  majority of country's political leers were in favour of joining alliance. 

About NATO

It should be mentioned here that North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a 30-member intergovernmental military alliance. organisation was established in aftermath of World War II to implement North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed on April 4, 1949. alliance is a collective security arrangement in which NATO's independent member states commit to defending each or in event of an external attack. Since end of Cold War, alliance has been involved in military operations in Balkans, Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, among or places.

Image: AP