Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Moscow would strengthen its military capacity in its western and northwestern regions in response to Finland's accession, state-owned news agency RIA reported.Subscribing to automatic updates from is often the best way to stay on top of breaking news and information about our mission areas. 'President Putin went to war against Ukraine with the clear aim to get less NATO.he is getting the exact opposite, he is getting more NATO presence in the eastern part of the alliance, and he is getting two new members with Finland and Sweden,' Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg pointed out that by Finland joining NATO, the military alliance's land border with Russia more than doubled.įinland shares a 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) border with Russia. He added that he expected that Sweden would be able to join NATO soon.

Stoltenberg, however, pointed out 'Sweden will also be safer as a result,' of Finland's membership. Sweden's membership is still pending Turkish ratification due to several sticking points. Turkey and Hungary were holdouts for months, but both countries' parliaments ratified Finland's application in the past few weeks, clearing the last major hurdle for the country to join NATO. They applied for NATO membership in May 2022.Īdmitting a new country requires unanimity among all member nations. Hard way to NATOįearing that they would be next targeted after Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, Finland and Sweden abandoned their traditional position of military non-alignment. Finland's President Sauli Niinisto will also speak at the event.Ĭompleting the ratification in well under a year still makes it the 'quickest ascension procession in NATO's history,' Stoltenberg said. The country's flag will be raised at NATO's headquarters in Brussels, signaling it has become the latest member of the military alliance.

He told reporters it would be 'a historic and great day for NATO and for Finland.' The news was confirmed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, 'tomorrow we will welcome Finland as the 31st member.' The Finnish president's office said that Finland would officially become a member of NATO on Tuesday.

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