Finland becomes member of NATO, Russia warns of counter-measures
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto completed the accession process by handing over an official document to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at NATO headquarters in Brussels
- Apr 4, 2023,
- Updated Apr 4, 2023 6:48 PM IST
Finland became a member of NATO on Tuesday, completing a historic security policy shift triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, drawing a threat from Moscow of "countermeasures".
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto completed the accession process by handing over an official document to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
"Finland is entering a new era as a member of NATO. I am proud of Finland and the Finnish people. As a nation, we have been united throughout this historic process. Thank you to our Allies for your trust. Together we will be even stronger," tweeted Finland PM Sanna Marin.
The Kremlin said that Russia would be forced to take "counter-measures" to Finland's accession, as Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the move raised the prospect of the conflict in Ukraine escalating further.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the expansion of NATO - long criticised in Moscow - was an "encroachment on our security and on Russia's national interests" and that Moscow would watch closely for any NATO military deployments in Finland.
The military alliance will welcome Finland as its 31st member in a flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters on the outskirts of Brussels, attended by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and government ministers.
The event marks the end of an era of military non-alignment for Finland that began after the country repelled an invasion attempt by the Soviet Union during World War Two and opted to try to maintain friendly relations with neighbouring Russia.
But Russia's invasion of another neighbour, Ukraine, which began in February 2022, prompted Finns to seek security under the umbrella of NATO's collective defence pact, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
With inputs from Reuters
Finland became a member of NATO on Tuesday, completing a historic security policy shift triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, drawing a threat from Moscow of "countermeasures".
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto completed the accession process by handing over an official document to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
"Finland is entering a new era as a member of NATO. I am proud of Finland and the Finnish people. As a nation, we have been united throughout this historic process. Thank you to our Allies for your trust. Together we will be even stronger," tweeted Finland PM Sanna Marin.
The Kremlin said that Russia would be forced to take "counter-measures" to Finland's accession, as Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the move raised the prospect of the conflict in Ukraine escalating further.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the expansion of NATO - long criticised in Moscow - was an "encroachment on our security and on Russia's national interests" and that Moscow would watch closely for any NATO military deployments in Finland.
The military alliance will welcome Finland as its 31st member in a flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters on the outskirts of Brussels, attended by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and government ministers.
The event marks the end of an era of military non-alignment for Finland that began after the country repelled an invasion attempt by the Soviet Union during World War Two and opted to try to maintain friendly relations with neighbouring Russia.
But Russia's invasion of another neighbour, Ukraine, which began in February 2022, prompted Finns to seek security under the umbrella of NATO's collective defence pact, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
With inputs from Reuters