Finns Ready to Spend More on Defense, but Reject NATO Membership – Poll

© Flickr / Aldo van ZeelandFinnish Army
Finnish Army - Sputnik International
Subscribe
More than half of Finns are prepared to spend more on defense, but reject NATO membership even if Sweden joins in, a recent poll indicates.

The survey, conducted by the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, showed that a majority of Finns favored spending more on defense.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja - Sputnik International
EU Lacks Resources for Pan-European Army – Finnish FM
A quarter of those polled said they fully backed the idea of an eventual hike, while another one-third partially agreed.

As to the country’s membership of NATO, 54 percent did not think it was a good idea, even if neighboring Sweden decided to join the Western defense alliance.

72 percent said if the matter actually came up, it should be put to a nationwide referendum.

Half of those polled also spoke against building up European defenses, with 38 percent saying they favored the idea – a 15 percent jump from the previous year.

The TNS Gallup market research company surveyed around 1,000 people in late February.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала