BRUSSELS: Finland has officially become the 31st member of NATO, with its flag set to be hoisted outside NATO headquarters on Tuesday.
The country’s bid to join the Western alliance was driven by concerns over Russian aggression following President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
However, objections from Turkey and Hungary had delayed Helsinki’s bid for months until the final obstacle was cleared with a vote in Ankara last week.
Finland’s quick ratification process has made it the fastest membership process in NATO’s recent history. At the formal accession ceremony in Brussels, Finland’s foreign minister will hand over the accession papers to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is the keeper of NATO’s founding treaty.
The country’s blue-and-white flag will be raised alongside those of its new allies, and Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto will speak at the event.
NATO chief hails Finland’s membership
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hailed Finland’s membership, saying that Russia’s actions had pushed Finland and neighbouring Sweden to seek NATO’s protective umbrella. He also noted that Putin’s aim in going to war against Ukraine was to get less NATO, but instead, he is getting the exact opposite.
The addition of Finland to NATO comes amid heightened tensions between the alliance and Russia. Last week, NATO expelled seven Russian diplomats over allegations of spying, and Russia responded by expelling seven NATO diplomats.
NATO has also expressed concern over the deployment of Russian troops near Ukraine’s border.
