Finland to join NATO on Tuesday, doubling the alliance's border with Russia
Finland will become the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's 31st member on Tuesday afternoon at a ceremony in Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Monday. "We will raise the Finnish flag for the first time here at the NATO headquarters," he said. "It will be a good day for Finland's security, for Nordic security, and for NATO as a whole." Finland's president, Sauli Niinistö, Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen, and Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto will attend the ceremony, at the beginning of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
Finland and its neighbor Sweden applied to join the Western defense alliance in May 2022, prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Stoltenberg said Finland's accession was the fastest in NATO's recent history, due almost entirely to Moscow's war. "What we see is that President [Vladimir] Putin went to war against Ukraine with a declared aim to get less NATO," Stoltenberg said. "He's getting the exact opposite."
In fact, Finland's accession will double NATO's land border with Russia, adding 832 miles to the alliance's direct boundary with Russia in Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. "Unlike most members of the alliance, Finland did not cut defense spending and investment after the Cold War," The Associated Press reports. "Finland has substantial, well-trained armed forces with elite troops capable of operating in the sub-zero temperatures of the high north. The Nordic country also has a large reserve army and is investing heavily in new equipment, including dozens of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Stoltenberg said he still expects Sweden to join NATO before a leader's summit in Lithuania in July. "Sweden is not left alone," he said. "Sweden is as close as it can come as a full-fledged member." Turkey and Hungary, which ratified Finland's membership last week, are sitting on Stockholm's application due to various grievances. "All allies," Stoltenberg said, "agree that Sweden's accession should be completed quickly." He added that as far as Turkey was concerned, "my position is that Sweden has delivered on the commitments they made."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Hamas and Fatah sign unity agreement in Beijing
Speed Read China brokered a reconciliation deal between the rival Palestinian factions
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
The Earth just saw its hottest day on record
Speed Read July 21, 2024 was the hottest day in recorded global history
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Bob Menendez to resign after corruption conviction
Speed Read The New Jersey senator submitted to resignation pressure following charges of federal bribery and corruption
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
British defence: the crisis in the Armed Forces
Talking Point Depleted military power may not be able to meet its own commitment to up defence spending to 2.5%
By The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's stolen children
Under the Radar Officially 20,000 children have been detained since Russia's invasion in 2022, but the true number is likely to be far higher
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
A brief timeline of Russia's war in Ukraine
In Depth How the Kremlin's plan for a quick conquest turned into a quagmire
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How would we know if World War Three had started?
Today's Big Question With conflicts in Ukraine, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, the 'spark' that could ignite all-out war 'already exists'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why is Ukraine backing far-right militias in Russia?
Today's Big Question The role of the fighters is a 'double-edged sword' for Kyiv, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
What does victory now look like for Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Not losing is as important as winning as the tide turns in Russia's favour again
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
Israel proposes two-month pause in Gaza war in exchange for all Hamas hostages
Speed Read Deal doesn't include an agreement to end war, but might be 'the only path that could lead to a ceasefire', said US officials
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Nato official warns of all-out war with Russia in next 20 years
Speed Read Civilians must prepare for life-changing conflict and mass mobilisation, says military chief
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published