Finland has officially joined NATO, doubling alliance’s border with Russia in major blow to Putin
Finland formally joined the NATO military alliance on April 4.
The country’s foreign minister completed the accession process at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
The historic policy shift, brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, quickly drew a threat from Moscow of “counter-measures.”
Finnish defence minister, Antti Kaikkonen said, “it is a big day for Finland. And it’s say it’s a win win situation it’s good for NATO also. Our next goal of course is to get our good neighbour Sweden to the full membership.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Finland to its ranks, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin had cited opposing NATO expansion as one justification for his invasion.
“This will make Finland safer and NATO stronger.”
Finland’s accession roughly doubles the length of the border that NATO shares with Russia and bolsters its eastern flank as the war in Ukraine grinds on with no resolution in sight.
The invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted Finns to seek security under NATO’s collective defence pact, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
On the streets of Helsinki, a cautious welcome for the news.
“I feel it’s a good thing that Finland is joining NATO,” one resident said.
“In some ways I think it will make Finland a safer place but then again we don’t know what Russia will do and like yeah it’s a big question for me I think so.”
Russia said on Monday it would strengthen its military capacity in its western and northwestern regions in response to Finland joining NATO.
Its defence minister Sergei Shoigu also said the move raised the prospect of the conflict in Ukraine escalating further.
The Ukrainian government hailed Finland’s move, calling it, quote, ‘the right choice.’
NATO has repeatedly stressed that it is solely a defensive alliance and does not threaten Russia.
