ABSTRACT
During the ensuing Cold War, Finland pursued a policy of neutrality between East and West, which affected its relations with the newly established Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic. As a result of Finland's March 1992 application for membership in the European Community, Germany is clearly looming as one of Helsinki's most crucial partners in a future European Union. Shared membership in such a European Union would reinforce the traditionally and geopolitically close Finnish-German relationship. From the 12th century onward, the famous Hanseatic League had an important springboard on the Finnish coast, particularly via Tallin, Although the Swedes maintained political and military control over Finland, the Germans increased their grip on Finnish trade relations by means of certain privileges. Soviet Russia continued to be seen as an adversary, making good or even normal inter-state relations difficult to achieve. This basic fact constituted a fundamental geopolitical point of orientation in Finnish foreign policy.
