SHANNON LONGWORTH: WHILE RUSSIA CONTINUES ITS INVASION IN UKRAINE–TO THE SOUTH– IT ALSO SHARES 800 MILES OF BORDER WITH *FINLAND* TO THE NORTHWEST.

FINLAND HAS MAINTAINED A STABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA FOR DECADES–UNTIL NOW. IT’S GETTING READY TO JOIN NATO…WITH ITS *PRIME MINISTER* LEADING THE CHARGE. 

SANNA MARIN – JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.

SHE BECAME THE WORLD’S YOUNGEST LEADER WHEN SHE STEPPED INTO THE ROLE IN 2019. 

A POLITICIAN FOR THE INSTAGRAM GENERATION. SHE’S POSTED PICTURES OF PASTA RECIPES AND HERSELF BREASTFEEDING. 

IT’S A WAY TO GET FINLAND’S FIVE-POINT-FIVE-MILLION PEOPLE TO BUY INTO HER POLICIES INCLUDING RAISING THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE TO 18 AND EXTENDING PARENTAL LEAVE.

SHE ALSO CHAMPIONED LEGISLATION TO BENEFIT WOMEN AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES–ALL PART OF HER PLATFORM AS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST. 

BUT WITH YOUTH COMES RECREATIONAL URGES THAT MAYBE DON’T PLAY WELL IN THE PRESS…LIKE CLUBBING HOURS AFTER EXPOSURE TO A COVID CASE.

NOW, 35-YEAR-OLD MARIN FACES ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGES: AN AGGRESSIVE AND WAR-MINDED NEIGHBOR. 

SINCE THE RUSSIAN INVASION BEGAN IN FEBRUARY, PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR JOINING NATO IN FINLAND HAS LEAPT FROM AROUND 30-PERCENT TO NEARLY 80-PERCENT IN SOME POLLS.