On Tuesday, Finland joined the NATO military alliance. Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine triggered the move, which dealt a major blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Following World War II, Finland became neutral after a defeat by the Soviets. The Nordic country shares an 832-mile border with Russia. But after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year, Finland’s leaders sought protection under the organization’s security umbrella. They signaled they wanted to join NATO.
“I’m tempted to say this is maybe the one thing that we can thank Mr. Putin for,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says of Finland’s membership.
Neighboring Sweden, which has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, also applied. But objections from NATO members Turkey and Hungary have delayed the process. (Read further in Neutral No More.)
“Russia tried to create a sphere around them and, well, we are not a sphere. I’m sure that Finns themselves feel more secure [and] that we are living in a more stable world,” Finland President Sauli Niinisto says.
The Nordic country’s membership doubles the amount of Russia’s border protected by NATO, the world’s biggest security alliance.
The move is a strategic and political setback for Putin. He has long complained about NATO’s expansion toward Russia. In fact, he pointed to the expansion as one reason for his invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent his congratulations to Finland. A short distance away from Finland’s NATO ceremony, outside the security fence, a few dozen people wrapped in flags of their own chanted, “Ukraine needs NATO.”
Russia has warned about taking “retaliatory measures” because of so-called security threats created by Finland’s membership. It has also warned it would boost forces near Finland if NATO sends more troops or equipment.
It’s not clear what additional military resources Russia could send to the Finnish border. Moscow has deployed the bulk of its best military units to Ukraine.
Finland is now protected by NATO’s security promise. Under that, member countries vow to come to the defense of any ally that comes under attack. But NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says no more troops will be sent to Finland unless it asks for help.
U.S. President Joe Biden praised Finland’s NATO membership.
“When Putin launched his brutal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine, he thought he could divide Europe and NATO. He was wrong,” President Biden says. “Strengthened by our newest ally, Finland, we will continue to preserve transatlantic security, defend every inch of NATO territory, and meet any and all challenges we face.”
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. — Proverbs 29:2
(NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a ceremony at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on April 4, 2023. Meanwhile, military personnel prepare to raise the flag of Finland. AP/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
