@Lazycog @eighthave indeed. And AFAIR the neutrality of #Finland after #WWII was, basically, forced by conditions of negotiations rather than voluntarily chosen. And now Finland decided to join #NATO - probably because they remember their history quite good.
The purpose of soviet invasion to Hungary and Czechoslovakia was completely different.
@nanoelquant @Lazycog@mastodon.online Austria's neutrality was also forced by a deal between the Soviet Union, France, UK, and USA. But it has worked, and is immensely popular in Austria now. Finland's situation now is quite different than both Ukraine and Austria. Finland was already spending more on than NATO's 2% requirement, and it has a long border with Russia. It will be interesting to see how the Finns feel about NATO when they have to join in some pointless yet devastating invasion like Afghanistan.
@eighthave @Lazycog "But it has worked" when you don't lock your door, but there is no thief, technically it also "works".
Before ca. 1990, there was actually no choice for Austria, then before ca.2000 there was no need (the Cold war was like "won"), later there was no sense (Austria found itself mostly between democratic EU/NATO which would obviously not plan invasion). Technically, the discussion now is purely theoretical, even if hypothetically russia occupies Poland and Czechia, the formal Austria status would not be too much important anymore (I mean, that the course of military actions on such scale would be barely dependent on formal questions).
But the things are notably dependent on the geographic location.
@nanoelquant @Lazycog@mastodon.online yes exactly, Austria was forced by military invasion and occupation to become neutral. That occupation was mostly Russians and directed from Moscow. Now, neutrality is immensely popular with Austrians, and all but one minor political party fully support it. It can work very well, much better than any military alliance, so #Ukraine really should keep it in consideration, especially because its clear they won't be allowed into #NATO any time soon.
@nanoelquant @Lazycog@mastodon.online we also have a giant monument in one of the main squares of #Vienna thanking the #Soviet army for liberating us. We have to keep it forever as part of the treaty that ended the occupation. People hated it for a long time, but in the end, it does not really limit our freedom, and it was an important symbol for the #Soviets. I think that it was a brilliant move by the Austrian negotiators to accept it.
@eighthave @Lazycog you contradict yourself. People hated it and could not remove it - it IS limiting their freedom. Well, maybe you just like soviets and russians, so it does not limit *your* freedom, but from what you have told other Austians have different meanings.