The Finnish president’s office announced that Finland will become a NATO member on Tuesday.

The Nordic nation shares a border to Russia and applied for membership of the military alliance following Vladimir Putin’s invasion Ukraine last year.

It’s the first enlargement NATO since North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020.

Jens Stoltenberg (NATO secretary general) confirmed the announcement, saying that Finland and other NATO members will be safer.

Advertisement

“We will raise our Finnish flag here at NATO headquarters for the first-ever time.” He told reporters in Brussels that it would be a positive day for NATO’s security, Nordic security, and all of NATO.

He expressed his hope that Finland’s neighbor Sweden would be allowed to join the EU in the next months.

Russia responded immediately to the announcement with an official telling the state-owned news agency RIA, that Russia would increase its forces along its 1,300km (810 miles) border with Finland.

RIA was told by Alexander Grushko, Russia’s deputy foreign Minister.

“In the unlikely event that forces and resources from other NATO members are deployed to Finland, we will take additional measures to ensure Russia’s security.”

Finnish president Sauli Niinisto and Antti Kaikkonen, defense minister, and Pekka Haavisto are due to attend a ceremony marking Finland’s NATO membership.

It is a historic moment in our history. “Finland’s most important goal at the meeting will not be to stress NATO’s support for Ukraine as Russia continues its unlawful aggression,” Mr Haavisto stated in a statement.

“We aim to promote stability, security and peace throughout the Euro-Atlantic area.”

Turkey was one of NATO’s 30 member countries to accept Finland’s request – ending decades of military non-alignment.

Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Turkey stated earlier in March that Finland had received his blessing after taking concrete steps towards keeping promises to Ankara to crackdown on terrorist groups and to allow defence exports to be freed up.

Turkey continues to block the approval of Sweden joining NATO. The government claims that Stockholm has not yet taken sufficient measures against similar groups.

Continue reading:

Finland begins construction of Russia’s border fence

RAF will conduct NATO air policing missions in conjunction with the German Air Force

Turkey repeatedly stated that Sweden must take further steps to stop Kurdish militants and other members of the network it considers responsible for the 2016 coup attempt.

Both groups are considered terrorist organizations by Ankara.

Talks between Sweden & Turkey have been stalled, especially after several disputes that arose mainly from street protests in Stockholm by pro-Kurdish organizations.

Stoltenberg called on Turkey to ratify Sweden’s application. Hungarians have not yet scheduled a vote on Sweden’s bid.

Budapest officials revealed last month that the objection was based on Stockholm’s criticism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s policies.

NATO must approve new members unanimously before they can join.