Finland, which started the NATO membership process together with Sweden after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, officially became the 31st member of NATO today.
Finland, which applied for NATO membership with Sweden shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, became the 31st member of NATO with a ceremony held in Brussels today.
Finland’s membership in NATO, which broke its neutrality after Russia’s moves and statements in the region, thus meant that the border shared by NATO with Russia increased nearly twice. At the event held at NATO headquarters in Brussels today, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto completed the process by delivering the necessary documents to her US counterpart, Antony Blinken.
FINLAND FLAG HOLDS TO NATO HEADQUARTERS
Due to Finland’s participation, a ceremony was held at NATO headquarters, where the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting was held. The ceremony was attended by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the foreign ministers of 30 other allied countries.
Then the Finnish national anthem and NATO official anthem were played and the attendees posed for a family photo. Speaking at the ceremony, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he is pleased to welcome Finland as the newest member of the alliance, and 31 flags are now flying together as a symbol of unity and solidarity.
“The war has come back to Europe and Finland has decided to join NATO.” Stoltenberg emphasized that Finland’s accession was the fastest in NATO’s modern history. “Finland is safer now, NATO is stronger,” Stoltenberg said. used the phrase.
Stating that this participation is a sign that each country can choose its own path, Stoltenberg said to Finnish President Niinisto, “Welcome to the alliance.” he called.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said, “Our period of military non-alignment in our history is over. A new era begins.” said.
Emphasizing that each country increases its own security like Finland, Niinisto said, “Finland’s membership is not a threat to any country.” used the phrase.
Niinisto said that NATO membership will not change everything, that being an ally will bring a new way of thinking and some changes in the country’s laws, and that their participation in common defense as Finland requires a lot of work.
Niinisto said that they would like to see Sweden, with which they applied for membership, as soon as possible, at the Vilnius Summit as the 32nd member of the alliance.
CONVENIENT STATEMENTS FROM LEADERS
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also expressed his satisfaction with Finland’s participation in the bloc. “Finland today and soon Sweden will be full members of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said.
The previous day, the Kremlin announced that some measures would be implemented if Finland became a NATO member, and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also stated that this membership would increase tensions with Ukraine.
Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of Ukrainian leader Zelenskiy, also said on Telegram, “Finland made the right decision. NATO is also a critical target for Ukraine,” he said.
STATEMENT FROM US PRESIDENT BIDEN
US President Joe Biden has issued a written statement regarding Finland’s accession to the NATO alliance.
“Today, I am proud to welcome Finland as NATO’s 31st ally.” Biden, 74 years ago today, when the United States and 11 other countries came together to establish the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, President Harry Truman said, “If there is something inevitable in the future, it is the will of the people of the world for freedom and peace.” reminded me of his words.
Pointing out that this will is stronger than ever with Finland’s joining NATO, Biden reminded that Finland and Sweden, which are militarily capable and share the same values as the United States, applied to become NATO members in May 2022.
Noting that Finland’s membership for less than a year is the fastest ratification process in NATO’s modern history, Biden noted that they look forward to welcoming Sweden as a NATO member as soon as possible. In this context, Biden encouraged Türkiye and Hungary to complete Sweden’s approval process without delay.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Sweden and Finland started the NATO membership process together last year, but Sweden’s membership did not receive a positive reaction from NATO members Turkey and Hungary. While Turkey delayed the process by announcing that Sweden did not cooperate enough in the fight against terrorism, Hungary slowed down the approval process.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstroem stated that the aim of the Swedish government is to become a NATO member at the NATO Summit to be held in Vilnius in July. “There is no reason for the Turkish and Hungarian parliaments to delay the accession process any longer,” Billstroem said.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto also made statements. “Finland’s membership would not be complete without Sweden’s membership,” Niinisto said. “We will work tirelessly for Sweden’s membership,” he said.
LITHUANIA: FINLAND’S PARTICIPATION IS AN EXCELLENT DEVELOPMENT
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated that Finland’s accession to NATO is an excellent development and said, “Finland has a very serious military power and is a very experienced country in military training.”
Landsbergis stated that they would be very happy to have the Finnish flag fly in Brussels and expressed that they hoped to become 32 NATO member countries with the participation of Sweden.
IRONIC THANKS TO RUSSIA FROM USA
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ironically thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for paving the way for Finland’s security concerns due to the war it started in Ukraine, to become a NATO member.
Blinken made a joint press statement with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg before the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels.
“Soon we will invite Finland to join the Alliance, to its seat at the table. I want to say that this is perhaps the only thing we can thank Putin for, because he once again precipitated something he planned to block with his aggression. “It has led many countries to believe they need to do more to guard their own defenses and to make sure they can deter potential Russian aggression going forward,” he said.