After three decades of military non-alignment, Finland officially became NATO’s 31st member on Tuesday, a “historic day” for the alliance that drew the ire of Russia.
• Read more: Why would Finland be an asset to NATO against Russia?
“With the receipt of these documents we announce Finland as the 31st member of the alliance,” US diplomatic chief Anthony Blinken, who is the depositary of the North Atlantic Treaty, said in a brief ceremony at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels. .
“It’s certainly a great day for Finland (…) and it’s also a good thing for NATO,” Finnish Defense Minister Andi Kaikkonen said before the ceremony.
US Secretary of State and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who presented the membership documents, hailed it as a “historic day”.
“I’m tempted to say that the only thing we can thank (Russian President Vladimir) Putin for is that he once again accelerated what he said he wanted to avoid by attacking,” Antony Blinken commented.
Moscow condemned the “attack” on its security and pledged “countermeasures”.
The Nordic country, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, became the alliance’s 31st member on April 4, 1949, on the anniversary of its formation.
The Finnish flag was still to be raised in the main courtyard of the organization’s headquarters in Brussels at 3:30 pm (1:30 GMT) between Estonia and France in alphabetical order.
“Finland is safe now,” said Jens Stoltenberg.
• Read more: Kremlin vows ‘countermeasures’ after Finland joins NATO
“Together, NATO allies represent 50% of the world’s military power. So as long as we stick together, protect each other and do it reliably, there will be no military attack on a NATO ally,” he explained.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has destabilized security in Europe and reshuffled the cards, prompting Finland and Sweden to join NATO’s security umbrella.
By joining NATO, Finland, occupied by the Soviet Union in 1939, doubles the length of its border with the US-led alliance’s Russia.
He enjoys the protection of Article 5 of the Pledge of Collective Security that an attack on one member “shall be deemed an attack on all members”.
Objections by Turkey and Hungary have delayed Helsinki’s membership for months and are still blocking Stockholm’s membership.
“I have full confidence that Sweden will also become a member. For NATO, my priority is to ensure that this happens as quickly as possible,” Jens Stoltenberg assured.
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Sweden must join NATO “without delay” because our alliance with these two countries will be strong to ensure the security of the Euro-Atlantic region, declared French and Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
“We hope that the Swedish flag will fly at NATO for the Vilnius summit,” commented his Lithuanian counterpart, Gabriel Landbsergis.
“I call on President Erdogan not to destroy the Vilnius summit,” he said.
Chances of an alphabetical order, Sweden’s colors will be raised between Spain and Turkey.
The entry of these two Nordic countries struck Jens Stoltenberg as saying, “The door to NATO remains open.”
“NATO’s position remains unchanged: Ukraine will become a member of the alliance,” he continued.
However, he was quick to say, “The main objective now is to survive as a sovereign and independent country, otherwise there is no point in talking about membership”.
NATO foreign ministers will meet Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kouleba in Kiev to discuss “long-term support”.
“Ukraine aims for the same goal as Finland to become a full member of NATO, and our conversations in Brussels will focus on how we can move forward,” the Ukrainian minister said upon his arrival there.
A meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission was arranged for this despite Hungary’s objections.
Overnight Monday into Tuesday, Russian drones attacked the Ukrainian port of Odessa on the Black Sea, causing material damage, officials said.
The ministers will also meet the Japanese minister to discuss the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and the challenges posed by China and “its alliance with Russia”.
“In order to meet these challenges, it is necessary to invest more in security,” stressed Jens Stoltenberg.
“I expect partners to make a new ambitious investment promise at the Vilnius summit in July, with 2% of their GDP as a floor and no longer a ceiling”.
