Finland is officially a member of NATO. Russia reacted as early as Tuesday afternoon and announced countermeasures.
Update from April 4, 4:30 p.m.: Finland’s NATO accession is a day of joy for Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. “NATO will become stronger with Finland,” said the Green politician on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels. “This is a day of joy because Finland gains more security with it. And as a result, we are gaining a strong partner at our side as NATO.” However, she makes no secret of the fact that she regrets that Sweden was not able to join NATO at the same time. “Both countries have done everything for it, have made all the preparations for it.”
US President Joe Biden also welcomed Finland as a new NATO member. Biden said he was proud to welcome Finland as the 31st member of NATO, according to a written statement from the White House. The desire of the people of the world for freedom and peace is stronger than ever with Finland’s accession to NATO. “Today we are more united than ever. And together – strengthened by our newest ally, Finland – we will continue to maintain transatlantic security, defend every inch of NATO territory and meet any challenges that come our way.”
Happy voices from Finland: Politicians welcome NATO membership
Update from April 4, 3:15 p.m.: Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö has described his country’s accession to NATO as the beginning of a new era. The Finnish head of state declared on Tuesday, immediately after the completion of the accession, that his country’s period of military freedom from alliances had come to an end. “A new era is beginning.” At a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, he said: “It’s a great day for Finland.”
NATO membership gives Finland security, while membership also makes the defense alliance more secure, said Niinistö. “Finland, which is committed to the security of all NATO member states, will be a reliable ally that strengthens regional stability.” Finnish membership is not directed against anyone.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin is also proud and grateful that her country has joined NATO. “Finland is entering a new era as a NATO member,” the social democrat said on Twitter on Tuesday, after her country had officially joined the defense alliance a few minutes earlier. “I am proud of Finland and the Finnish people. As a nation, we have been united throughout this historic process.” She thanked NATO allies for their trust. “Together we will be even stronger,” she declared.
Official: Finland is a NATO member
Update from April 4, 2:50 p.m.: Finland joined NATO under the impression of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto presented his country’s instrument of accession to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday. With this step, the recording process was finally completed. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Blinken spoke of a “historic day” for NATO and Finland. The alliance now has 31 members instead of 30.
After the certificate was handed over, the Finnish flag was to be hoisted in front of NATO headquarters for the first time – alphabetically between those of Estonia and France. In addition to Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her 29 colleagues from the other current member states were also expected to attend the ceremony. The first meeting of NATO foreign ministers, in which Finland is taking part as an official member, was to begin immediately after the celebration.
Russia criticizes Finland’s entry into NATO: “Attack on our security”
Finland’s entry into NATO is probably one of the most far-reaching geopolitical consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For decades, the Nordic country with its approximately 5.5 million inhabitants had placed great value on freedom from military alliances. With the accession of Finland, the NATO external border towards Russia has now more than doubled.
The Kremlin has criticized its neighbor’s NATO membership as a threat to its own security. “NATO expansion is an attack on our security and Russia’s national interests,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, according to the Interfax news agency. Accordingly, Russia is forced to take countermeasures.
At the same time, he rejected the thesis that Finland’s accession to NATO was tantamount to Ukraine’s accession, which Russia feared. “The situation with Finland is fundamentally different from the situation with Ukraine,” said Peskov. Finland has never become “anti-Russia” and there have been no disputes with its neighbors to the north. “The situation in Ukraine is exactly the other way around and potentially much more dangerous.” For this reason, Russia has also started its “military special operation” – as Moscow calls its war against the neighboring country.
Finland says “now safe” according to NATO Secretary General
April 4 update at 1:58 p.m.: According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Finland is “safe now” thanks to its inclusion in the military alliance. “Together, the NATO allies represent 50 percent of global military power,” said Stoltenberg on Tuesday before the induction ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels. “As long as we are united, protect each other and do so in a credible manner, there will be no military attack on a NATO ally.”
Just a few years ago, the western defense alliance thought it was unthinkable that Finland could become one of its members, Stoltenberg said. “Now it’s going to be a full member of our alliance and that’s really historic.” Moscow must finally say goodbye to “misjudgments” that NATO is not determined to protect Finland.
Stoltenberg also met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was later to attend the meeting of his NATO counterparts. It should also be about the “long-term support” for Kiev.
April 4 update at 12:20 p.m.: Russia has announced “countermeasures” against NATO expansion. The admission of Finland is an “attack on our security,” the Kremlin declared on Tuesday (April 4) in Moscow. Finland is to be ceremoniously admitted to NATO as the 31st member this afternoon in Brussels.
Update from April 4, 2023, 11:50 a.m.: Finland’s entry into NATO on Tuesday is a historic event and a direct consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This was said by NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg, adding that the alliance would ensure that Sweden also became a full member. “President Putin’s stated aim of invading Ukraine was to get less NATO,” he told reporters ahead of a meeting of the alliance’s foreign ministers. “He achieved exactly the opposite,” says Stoltenberg.
NATO border with Russia doubles after Finland joins
Update from April 3, 10:45 am: Russia intends to react to Finland’s upcoming NATO membership with an increased military presence in the region. “We will strengthen our military capabilities in the west and north-west,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, according to the Russian news agency Ria Novosti from the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, the NATO border with Russia will increase many times over. In addition to the almost 1,000 kilometers of borders in the former NATO states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland and the almost 200 others in the far north of Norway, there are now 1,340 kilometers of Finnish borders.
Finland shortly before joining NATO: flag hoisted in front of headquarters
First report from April 3rd: Brussels – Finland is to be officially admitted to NATO this Tuesday. The country will be welcomed as the 31st member of the defense alliance at a meeting of foreign ministers and the Finnish flag will be raised at NATO headquarters for the first time, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Monday. It will be a good day for Finnish security, for Nordic security and for NATO as a whole.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden decided last year to apply for NATO membership after a long period of military freedom from alliances. However, Turkey, which has to agree as one of the current 30 members, initially expressed concerns and thus delayed accession for months. It was not until mid-March that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he was giving up his previous opposition to Finland’s accession.
Finland becomes a NATO member, Sweden must continue to worry
Erdogan has maintained the blockade against Sweden’s accession to this day. Above all, he accuses the country of a lack of action against “terrorist organizations”. Ankara is primarily concerned with the banned Kurdish Workers’ Party PKK. Erdogan initially made similar allegations against Finland. In the meantime, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is said to have become critical.
However, Sweden’s parliament has long approved of joining NATO. Michael Roth, chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, has criticized Turkey and Hungary. “Of course, this is short-sighted in terms of security policy, but there are mainly domestic reasons why Hungary and Turkey are blocking,” said the SPD politician on Deutschlandfunk on Monday.
Sweden also wants to become a NATO member
Nevertheless, he believes that Sweden will still be included. “At the end of the day, however, I have the impression that once the election campaign in Turkey is over and even if Orban has cooled his courage, we will return to reason.” There is a broad consensus in NATO on this. Nevertheless, Roth accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of causing “considerable damage to the crops”. The presidential elections will take place in Turkey on May 14th. (mse/nak/dpa)
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