pekka haavisto

Finnish leaders know how to have a good time, which is probably why Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto recently sat down with GZERO’s Ian Bremmer to discuss Finland’s NATO ascension. Threats from the Kremlin had kept Finland (and Sweden) from joining the alliance for 75 years. But the invasion of Ukraine changed all that. In May, Finland’s long-serving President Sauli Niinistö rang his old friend, Vladimir Putin, who doesn't seem to be worried about Finland. Finns can see Russia moving its military away from their border, presumably to beef up reinforcements on the frontlines of Ukraine. But that doesn’t mean ascension to NATO has been smooth sailing.