BRUSSELS: In a historic shift, Finland became the 31st member of NATO on Tuesday, prompting an angry warning of “countermeasures” from the Kremlin. The move comes after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year upended Europe’s security landscape and caused Finland, as well as its neighbor Sweden, to abandon decades of military non-alignment.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described the move as “truly historic,” adding, “Not so many years ago it was unthinkable that Finland would ever become a member. Now it will be a fully-fledged member of our alliance, and that is truly historic.” Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen declared it “a win-win situation,” ahead of the choreographed last formalities ahead of Finland’s blue-and-white flag can be hoisted in front of NATO’s headquarters in Brussels.
However, Moscow denounced the move as an “assault” on Russia’s security and national interests. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “This forces us to adopt countermeasures in tactical and strategic terms.” Joining NATO places Finland under the military alliance’s Article Five, the collective defense pledge that an attack on one member state “shall be considered an attack against them all.”
Finnish leaders decided they needed this guarantee as they watched Russian President Vladimir Putin’s devastating attack on Ukraine. Stoltenberg said, “He wanted less NATO along his borders. He wanted to close NATO’s door. No more NATO membership for any more countries in Europe. He’s getting exactly the opposite.” The move is expected to further strain relations between Russia and NATO, which have been deteriorating since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Finland’s decision to join NATO
Finland’s decision to join NATO comes as Russia continues to flex its military muscles, with regular airspace violations and military exercises close to Finnish and Swedish borders. The move is also seen as a signal to other neutral states in the region that NATO remains a viable option for their own defense.
The announcement of Finland’s membership has been welcomed by many NATO members, who see the move as a crucial step in strengthening the alliance’s eastern flank. The US, in particular, has been a strong advocate of NATO expansion in the face of Russia’s increasing aggression.
In response to Finland’s membership, Russia has threatened to increase its military presence along its borders with Finland and Sweden and has warned of “consequences” for both countries. However, Finnish officials have downplayed these threats, stating that they are prepared to defend their territory against any potential aggression.
