Armed Polish soldiers stand at the NATO Multinational Division North East mobile command center. Photo: Wojtek Radwanski / AFP / Lehtikuva
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Finns’ trust in Nato’s ability to deter attacks has dropped sharply following Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency, according to a new poll by pro-market think tank Eva.
The survey found that only one third of respondents believed Nato’s defence guarantees would be enough to prevent an attack on a member state. The result marks a clear shift in public sentiment compared to the period immediately after Finland joined the alliance.
Finland joined Nato in 2023 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Public support for joining the alliance surged at the time, reversing decades of scepticism towards membership. Before the war in Ukraine, a majority of Finns had opposed joining Nato.
Despite the growing doubt about the strength of Nato’s deterrence, overall support for Finland’s Nato membership remains high. According to the poll, 66 percent of Finns continue to support membership.
The poll surveyed around 2,000 respondents and has a margin of error of three percentage points.
Eva noted that the declining trust appears closely tied to concerns over the US commitment to Nato under Trump’s leadership. Trump has previously questioned America’s obligations under Nato’s Article 5 mutual defence clause.
The results come as Nato faces growing challenges in maintaining unity among its members, with Trump suggesting that US military support to allies might not be automatic if he views their defence spending as insufficient.
Finland’s government has not commented on the poll findings. However, Finnish leaders have consistently emphasised the importance of deepening cooperation within Nato and strengthening national defence capabilities alongside alliance commitments.
The Eva poll highlights a shift in public mood just as Finland prepares to increase its contributions to Nato missions and expand military readiness at home.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
