Finland formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the world’s largest military alliance, as its 31st member.
The flag of Finland was raised alongside those of its Western partners outside NATO Headquarters for the first time after the Nordic country formally became the 31st member of the alliance on April 4.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attended the ceremony of Finland’s accession as Finnish president, foreign and defense ministers applauded the historic realignment of Europe’s security landscape.
“It’s a great day for Finland and an important day for Nato,” said Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö. “Each country maximizes its own security. So does Finland. At the same time, NATO membership strengthens our international position and room for maneuver. As a partner, we have long actively participated in NATO activities. In the future, Finland will make a contribution to NATO’s collective deterrence and defense,” he added.
“We welcome Finland to the Alliance,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as the Finnish flag for the first time was raised at the alliance’s headquarters in Belgium. “It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole” he said.
Standing alongside Finnish President Niinistö, the NATO chief said: “Finland is safer and NATO is stronger with Finland as an Ally. Your forces are substantial and highly capable, your resilience is second to none and for many years troops from Finland and NATO countries have worked side-by-side as partners. From today, we stand together as Allies.”
By adding Finland, the transatlantic bloc doubles its border with Russia and expands the alliance’s F-35 stealth fighter program.
U.S. welcomes Finland as NATO member
Finland formally became a member of NATO when foreign minister Pekka Haavisto handed over his country’s accession documents to Blinken, the official keeper of the Nato treaty.
“I’m tempted to say this is maybe the one thing that we can thank Mr. Putin for because he once again here precipitated something he claims to want to prevent by Russia’s aggression, causing many countries to believe that they have to do more to look out for their own defense and to make sure that they can deter possible Russian aggression going forward,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on the occasion.
President Biden warmly welcomed the completion of Finland’s accelerated accession process. He called it “a historic day” and said that Finland’s addition will make the alliance “stronger than ever.”
Russia warns of ‘counter-measures’
The historic shift in northeastern Europe that adds some 1,300 kilometers (830 miles) to the alliance’s frontier with Russia was brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia has warned that further NATO expansion will not bring more stability to Europe and said it would scale up forces near Finland if the alliance sent any troops or equipment to the new member country.
“We will strengthen our military capabilities in the west and northwest if NATO members deploy forces and equipment on Finnish territory,” Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Finland’s accession will force Moscow to “take counter-measures to ensure our own security, both tactically and strategically.”
What about Sweden?
Sweden and Finland – which share a 1,340km (830 miles) border with Russia – applied to become a member of NATO at the same time. However, Sweden’s case remains unclear as Turkey and Hungary continue to delay Sweden’s ratification.