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Finland has been officially welcomed as the 31st country to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and as the group’s fastest ratification in modern history.
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The Northern European nation’s flag was raised alongside those of 30 other nations at the headquarters of the NATO intergovernmental military alliance in Brussels on 4 April.
“Thirty-one flags will fly together, a symbol of our unity and our solidarity,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
“Joining NATO is good for Finland, it is good for Nordic security, and it is good for NATO as a whole.
“Finland brings substantial and highly capable forces, expertise in national resilience, and years of experience working side by side with NATO allies.
“I am deeply proud to welcome Finland as a full-fledged member of our alliance, and I look forward to also welcoming Sweden as soon as possible.”
North Macedonia was the last nation to join the alliance in March 2020. Finland and Sweden both applied for NATO membership in May 2022, while Ukraine formally applied to join NATO in September last year during the Russo-Ukraine War.
“President Putin wanted to slam NATO’s door shut. Today, we show the world that he failed, that aggression and intimidation do not work,” the secretary general said.
“As an ally, Finland will contribute to NATO’s collective deterrence and defence.
“Finland is a stable and predictable Nordic country that seeks peaceful resolution of disputes. The principles and values that are important to Finland will continue to guide our foreign policy also in the future.”
US President Joe Biden said the country welcomed Finland as NATO’s 31st ally.
“In May 2022, Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership. Both countries are strong democracies with highly capable militaries, who share our values and vision for the world,” he said.
“Less than a year later, we are welcoming Finland as a member; the fastest ratification process in NATO’s modern history.
“I look forward to welcoming Sweden as a NATO member as soon as possible, and encourage Turkiye and Hungary to conclude their ratification processes without delay.
“Today, we are more united than ever and together, 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.”
