And Finland Makes 31 in NATO

"For almost 75 years, this great alliance has shielded our nations and continues to do so today."

"But war has returned to Europe and Finland has decided to join NATO and be part of the world's most successful alliance."

"[Vladimir Putin's citing as justification for invading Ukraine, NATO's eastern expansion noted] He is getting exactly the opposite ... Finland today, and soon also Sweden will become a full-fledged member of the alliance." 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

Finland's NATO membership has grown the US-led alliance's land border with Russia by 1,340km.(ABC News graphic: Jarrod Fankhauser)

 

NATO is also fully cognizant that it is not quite prepared to go to war, hence Ukraine's bid for membership put on ice. Until such time as circumstances finally prevail upon Moscow to withdraw its military from Ukraine, or matters grow so out of control that a NATO member-nation's territorial integrity is impacted seriously enough to persuade the alliance (basically the United States speaking for all) thrust into the fray. Ukraine's membership will arrive only when the current invasion is over or it becomes academic should Russia prevail.

In the meantime, Sweden's full acceptance is in the wings, having satisfied Turkey's demands that it put a stop to harbouring 'terrorists' in its midst in the form of its Kurdish opposition. Finland's flag is now on display outside NATO's Brussels headquarters, along with the flags of its other member-states. Neither Finland or Sweden might ever have declared themselves hopeful candidates for NATO membership had Russia's invasion of Ukraine not constituted a future threat to them, as well.

NATO gains in other ways by Finland's membership given the country's long border with Russia on the eastern flank. The accession process was completed when Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto handed an official document over to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at NATO's HQ. -- to expand the alliance to 31 members. 

 

Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.(AP: Jussi Nukari)

 

"It is a great day for Finland and I want to say that it is an important day for NATO", stated Finland's President Saul Niinisto; NATO membership in exchange for including a nation prepared to defend itself in coordination with NATO. Russia, according to the Kremlin, would be forced by these circumstances to take "countermeasures". The move by Finland raised the prospect of the conflict in Ukraine escalating further, stated Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

As though it is Finland's decision to shield itself from a prospective Russian takeover of its territory in an attempt reminiscent of the previous one by the World War II Soviet Union. An event so seared into Finnish minds it has never suspended its antennae respecting Russia's motivations, temporarily put on hold. The February 2022 invasion of Ukraine was the prompt Finland needed to spur it into NATO's collective defence pact.

 

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Finland valued its military non-alignment after it repelled the 80-year-old attempt of invasion -- opting to maintain amicable relations with neighbouring Russia while never surrendering its vigil. That vigil prompted it to develop significant military capabilities; one of the few European countries still retaining conscription despite decades of peace, concerned over its next-door neighbour's territorial ambitions.

Now, Finland's ground, naval and airforces trained and equipped with the primary aim, to repel any possible Russian attack, is a benefit accrued to the NATO alliance.  Russia now plans to strengthen its military capacity in its western and northwestern regions, responding to NATO's welcome of Finland's membership. Sounds like the approach to another world war.

With a strong military along the 1,300km border, Finland's membership is seen as a boost for NATO. (AP: Heikki Saukkomaa)