Finland will join NATO on Tuesday, completing the Nordic country’s quick entry into the military alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, authorities said.
Finland has a 1,300-kilometer (810-mile) border with Russia, which means NATO’s border with Russia would approximately quadruple in length, prompting Moscow to commit to strengthening its military in border regions.
“Tomorrow we will welcome Finland as the 31st member of NATO making Finland safer and our alliance stronger,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels, hailing the move as “historic”.
“We will raise the Finnish flag for the first time here at Nato headquarters. It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security and for Nato as a whole,” Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels.
According to his office, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto will make the trip to Brussels in order to take part in the event.
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of last year, Finland and its neighbour Sweden applied to join NATO after decades of being military neutral.
Last week, the Turkish parliament agreed to confirm Helsinki’s application, clearing the final obstacle for Finland’s admission but putting Sweden’s request on hold.
“President Putin went to war against Ukraine with the clear aim to get less NATO,” Stoltenberg said. “He’s getting the exact opposite.”
Sweden’s application has been stalled by Turkey for some time now. Ankara claims that Sweden is hiding members of terrorist organisations in its territory, a claim that Stockholm strongly refutes. Turkey has sought the extradition of these individuals as a prerequisite to ratifying Sweden’s membership.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has taken offence at criticism of his actions, and now Hungary is holding up Sweden’s admittance as well. Yet, according to NATO diplomats, Budapest is expected to endorse Sweden’s application if it sees Turkey taking similar steps.
To have Sweden join NATO as soon as feasible, Stoltenberg promised to make every effort. He also emphasised the ongoing efforts being made by NATO and Swedish officials to draw Sweden closer to the alliance before membership has even been finalised.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko warned in Moscow that Russia will increase its military presence in the western and northern regions of the country.
Grushko told state-owned news agency RIA reported: “In the event that the forces and resources of other NATO members are deployed in Finland, we will take additional steps to reliably ensure Russia’s military security.”
Last year, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that Russia was constructing 12 troops and divisions in its western military zone as “sufficient countermeasures.”
