On Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, the country of Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an alliance between more than 30 countries from North America and Europe, becoming NATO’s 31st member. This was the first time in 3 years since NATO has had a new member.
Shortly after joining, Finland’s president Sauli Niinistö, was brought to NATO’s Headquarters in Belgium where a flag-raising ceremony took place, marking Finland’s alliance with the other countries in NATO. At the flag-raising ceremony, Finland’s national anthem, as well as the NATO hymn, were played, sealing the alliance between the two parties.
Prior to the ceremony, NATO’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, thanked President Niinistö for his help in leading Finland into the alliance. Stoltenberg also stated that he hoped Sweden would join the alliance soon, but their entry into the alliance has been halted by the vetoing of Turkey and Hungary. Meanwhile, this event has proven to the world that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not prevented NATO from accepting new members. While Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has long voiced his stance against NATO expansion, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine achieved the opposite effect on NATO membership. After the invasion, nonmember countries Finland and Sweden, seeking protection within the alliance, applied to join NATO in May of 2022.
Russia views this alliance as a threat and has thus warned both NATO and Finland that if equipment or troops are sent to Finland, Russia too will strengthen its forces near its border with Finland. A Russian spokesperson shared that Finland’s membership in NATO forces Russia to heighten its measures to achieve its own security.
This alliance is mutually beneficial for both NATO and Finland. Before the alliance, NATO had 755 miles of border with Russia, but with the addition of Finland, they have gained 832 more miles. In addition, NATO also gains Finland’s artillery forces, which are the largest in all of Western Europe. Through the alliance, Finland gains access to the resources from 30 countries in NATO, as well as their protection.
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