Finland’s NATO accession should mark a turning point for European defense

Finland officially joined the NATO alliance last week to great fanfare after a year-long accession process marked by a distinct lack of debate. The Nordic country, nestled between Sweden and Russia, long has championed a neutral foreign policy, but as Russian forces surged across Ukraine’s eastern border in February 2022, public opinion in Finland shifted dramatically toward support for NATO membership. While Finns may believe this decision bolsters their national security, Americans should question how defending yet another European ally — particularly one that shares an 830-mile border with Russia — is in the U.S. interest.